Kenyatta calls US Supreme Court ruling a major victory for civil rights in America
Rep. Malcolm Kenyatta June 16, 2020 | 10:22 AM
HARRISBURG, June 16 – Minutes after the United States Supreme upheld that Title VII of the Civil Rights Acts of 1964 that bars sex discrimination also provides protections for sexual orientation and gender identity and expression, state Rep. Malcolm Kenyatta issued an emotional statement, calling the decision a major victory in the fight for civil rights for LGBTQ Americans:
“I’m still collecting my thoughts and fighting back tears, but the Supreme Court’s Title VII decision is a powerful moment for progress and the LGBTQ community,” Kenyatta said.
“America has never lived up to its creed — ever. All men and women have been created equal but have never been treated equally or protected equally under the law. This decision changes that.
“Three weeks ago, I told my coming out story on the House floor and today I can say confidently to our LGBTQ kids that you matter and who you are will not limit your possibility,” he said.
Kenyatta, D-Phila, the first openly gay man of color to serve in the General Assembly in Pennsylvania’s history and a member of the governor’s LGBTQ Affairs Commission, expressed hopefulness that the court’s ruling will further elevate the visibility of LGBTQ Americans to better assess and mitigate their plights.
He pointed to a bill he introduced months prior to the U.S. Supreme Court landmark decision that would help state institutions better understand the lives of LGBTQ Pennsylvanians by requiring all state forms that collect demographic information to also contain a voluntary LGBTQ identifier question for respondents to answer.