Local man with ties to the Equality Act and is calling for change

The U.S. House and Senate Democrats introduced what some call the most comprehensive LGBT rights bill on Thursday.

It’s called the Equality Act and if passed it would expand the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to protect lesbians, gays, bisexuals and transgenders from discrimination.

This act would protect LGBT members from being discriminated against in the workplace, housing, public accommodation, education and other situations.

It’s something Richard Noble worked hard for … for years.

“If you get married on a Friday and you go out through the weekend and post your gay wedding pictures on Facebook you could get fired on Monday … this will end that,” Noble said.

Noble’s efforts are now being recognized on a national level.

“My connection to the Equality Act is that I walked it across the country for 15 months for 2,700 miles,” Noble said.

During his walk across the country, Noble worked to raise awareness of LGBT discrimination.

This is a replica of the flag Richard Noble walked across the country along with the content of the equality act which was just introduced to Congress.

The act will amend the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to outlaw discrimination against individuals based on their sexual orientation or gender identity.

Currently 31 states don’t ban discrimination in the workplace against LGBT people.

And 37 states don’t include those in laws that ban discrimination in education.

Right now, sex, race, religion, national origin and color are protected by the Civil Rights Act of 1964 adding in sexual orientation and gender identity will just complete the puzzle,” Noble said.

Congressman Raul Ruiz co-sponsored this bill and showed support for it in Congress.

Advocates want to eliminate uncertainty over who is and who isn’t protected under civil rights laws.

Noble hopes because of the added visibility the LGBT community received recently the bill will be passed before the end of President Obama’s term.

He isn’t blind to the fact this won’t be a walk in the park, but after his walk across the country anything seems possible.

‘This is the last great civil rights movement. And every great civil rights movement has had an amazing walk and this was my gift to this bill, the Equality Act,” Noble said.

Currently the Equality Act has the support of 140 House members and 40 senators.