At the end of February, 2021, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Equality Act, a bill designed to amend the 1964 Civil Rights Act by banning discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. The 1964 legislation banned discrimination based on “sex.”

The Equality Act expands that protection against discrimination to explicitly include lesbian, gay, and transgender Americans. The Act was one of the policies that President Joe Biden wanted to have passed during his first 100 Days in office.

Support and opposition for the bill is sharply divided along partisan lines - Democrats support and Republicans oppose. Both sides cite the importance of individual freedoms to support their views.

Court decisions are divided as to what is discriminatory conduct. In Bostock v. Clayton County, the Supreme Court ruled that an employer cannot fire an employee for participating in a gay recreational softball league. But, the Court also ruled in Masterpiece Cakeshop, LTD v. Colorado Civil Rights Commission that a baker can refuse to make a wedding cake for a same-sex couple.

In this activity, you will investigate how members of Congress took to Twitter to discuss, promote, or oppose the Equality Act and then consider how you might have done it differently. 

Activity: Compare and Contrast Politicians' Use of Twitter Regarding the Equality Act

• Read the following articles:
  • AOC Hits Back at Qanon Congresswoman Over Transphobic Opposition to Equality Act
  • Rep. Greene criticized for escalating Equality Act debate by hanging sign outside office
• Then, critically evaluate how members of congress used Twitter to discuss, promote, or oppose the Equality Act. Use the Teacher and Student Guide to Analyzing Social Media (Questions About Social Media Content) as well as the following prompts to guide your analysis. 
  • Do you think their tweets were effective in persuading their viewers' thoughts about the Equality Act? Why or why not? 
  • What are common themes or central ideas presented in the tweets?
  • How was language used to try to convince people to support one side or the other?
  • Do you think the language and visuals used were effective? Why or why not?
  • What might you have done differently if you were a member of Congress trying to persuade your constituents to think a certain way about the Equality Act?
• Present your critical analysis via a video, blog, or paper. 

Additional Resources

• House Passes The Equality Act: Here's What It Would Do, NPR
• House passes Equality Act which would expand LGBTQ protections, CNBC