The House passed a measure Wednesday night keeping federal money in the Energy and Water Appropriations Bill from going toward discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity.
Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney, D-N.Y., proposed an amendment to the $37.4 billion funding bill Wednesday that passed the House on a bipartisan basis, 223-195.
The amendment prohibits any of the money spent in the bill from violating Executive Order No. 13672, which prohibits federal contractors from discriminating on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity.
Maloney thanked the House for passing the measure after a controversial vote last week that saw the same amendment attached to a defense spending bill be defeated among rancor in the chamber.
“Equality wins! We have a long way to go, but achieved big victory. Will keep fighting until every #LGBT American is safe, can pursue dreams,” he said in a statement.
An amendment was made to the measure that Maloney’s amendment could not violate the First Amendment, the 14th Amendment or Article I of the Constitution. That measure was proposed by Rep. Joe Pitts, R-Pa.
However, other measures included in the Energy and Water Appropriations bill rankled Democrats.
One prohibited funds from being taken away from North Carolina, which recently passed the so-called “bathroom law” that requires people to use the bathroom corresponding to the gender listed on their birth certificate. That bill is widely seen as against transgender people.
The House also passed an amendment from Rep. Bradley Byrne, R-Ala., which would prohibit funds in the bill from being used in circumvention of the Religious Freedom Act and other laws that protect religion. This amendment was a response to Maloney’s amendment.
Minority Whip Steny Hoyer, D-Md., said Maloney’s amendment passing was a victory for LGBT rights over “Republicans’ extreme anti-LGBT views.
“I am pleased that it passed the House, as it should have last week,” Hoyer said. “I will continue working with him, with the LGBT Equality Caucus, and with the rest of the House Democratic Caucus to push for congressional action to end discrimination and recognize the full equality and equal dignity of every LGBT American.”
