WASHINGTON –ITI, the global voice of the tech sector, announced its support for the Equality Act. In a letter to congressional leadership signed by more than 40 trade and business associations, ITI called on Congress to “promote and perfect” the Act, which would amend Title VII of the Civil Rights Act to provide employment non-discrimination protections based on sexual orientation and gender identity.

“Ensuring that every qualified individual has equal access to job opportunities is critical to the success of our companies and the strength of our communities,” said Jason Oxman, President and CEO of ITI. “The Equality Act would provide a federal standard that protects all employees and job-seekers and makes important progress in the ongoing effort to fight discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity in the workplace. We applaud its introduction and look forward to working with Speaker Pelosi, Leader McConnell, Leader McCarthy, and Leader Schumer to advance this critical bill.”

Read the full letter below.

March 13, 2019

Dear Speaker Pelosi, Leader McConnell, Leader McCarthy, and Leader Schumer:

The undersigned trade and professional associations support provisions in the Equality Act that amend Title VII of the Civil Rights Act to provide employment non-discrimination protections based on sexual orientation and gender identity. Equality of opportunity is a key pillar of our great democracy—one that allows all people to pursue their American Dream—and part of what makes our nation exceptional. Our industries, representing tens of millions of Americans, understand this basic fact and have been at the forefront of efforts to combat discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity in the workplace.

We believe an appropriately-tailored federal standard would complement our members’ ongoing work to promote equal opportunity in the workplace. A clear federal standard would better enable individuals to succeed based on their abilities and qualifications to perform a job. Our members recognize the value of equal opportunity because it enables them to attract and retain the most talented employees.

Title VII of the Civil Rights Act provides a well-understood legal framework for preventing and addressing discrimination. Amending the Act to include protections based on sexual orientation and gender identity is a sensible approach to ensure consistency with other protected classes.

We look forward to working with Congress to promote and perfect the Equality Act, as we believe it meets these criteria.

Sincerely,

Information Technology Industry Council (ITI)

ACT | The App Association

AdvaMed

Aerospace Industries Association

American Benefits Council

American Cleaning Institute

American Hotel & Lodging Association

American Medical Association

American Society of Association Executives

Asian American Hotel Owners Association

Auto Care Association

BSA | The Software Alliance

Business Roundtable

College and University Professional Association for Human Resources

Consumer Healthcare Products Association

Consumer Technology Association

Council for Responsible Nutrition

Edison Electric Institute

Financial Executives International

Food Marketing Institute

Fragrance Creators Association

Grocery Manufacturers Association

Household & Commercial Products Association

HR Policy Association

International Council of Shopping Centers

International Franchise Association

Internet Association

Nareit

National Association of Chain Drug Stores

National Association of Manufacturers

National Investor Relations Institute

National Leased Housing Association

National Restaurant Association

National Retail Federation

National Safety Council

National Venture Capital Association

Personal Care Products Council

Retail Industry Leaders Association

Solar Energy Industries Association

The Center for Baby and Adult Hygiene Products

The ERISA Industry Committee

The National Multifamily Housing Council

The Real Estate Roundtable

U.S. Chamber of Commerce