Final Yr Susan Collins Urged McConnell to Cross the LGBTQ Equality Act – Now She’s Refusing to Even Co-Sponsor It

Is US Senator Susan Collins (R-ME) Playing politics with vital civil rights laws?

Eight months ago, Senator Collins was the only Republican senator to have the LGBTQ Equality Act. She was also in a desperate re-election race.

On June 15, she tweeted her strong support for the bill:

Congress should also pass the Gender Equality Act and amend the Civil Rights Act to explicitly prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity.

– Senator Susan Collins (@SenatorCollins) June 15, 2020

The following day, she signed a letter to then Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, urging him to “bring the non-partisan Equality Act (HR 5) to the Senate immediately and fully enshrine the explicit protection of LGBTQIA + people against discrimination in federal law the basis of their sexual orientation and gender identity. “

The bill never fell and Collins was re-elected.

On Tuesday, The Washington Blade reported Senator Collins refused to co-sponsor the Equality Act, a dramatic face after being such a strong supporter last year.

Why?

“There were certain provisions of the equality law that needed a revision,” Collins told Chris Johnson of the Blade, without specifying which “revisions” were so badly needed that she refused to sponsor the bill – and get it passed in Brought danger.

“Collins threw veiled criticism of the human rights campaign,” writes Johnson, “which refused to endorse it in 2020, as it had in previous elections,” added Collins: [given] last year.'”

The equality law will receive a vote on the floor of the house this week, reportedly Thursday or Friday. President Biden has said he will legally sign it in its first 100 days (although his staff have since suggested it could take longer).

Like so many other major laws, the Equality Act will take 60 votes to pass unless Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) kills the filibuster, which is what many liberals ask of him.

Other GOP senators treat it like tweets from Donald Trump.

“I don’t know what’s inside,” said Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL).

“I haven’t read the bill,” said Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA).

Will Collins change her mind? Will it help finance the Gender Equality Act? Will she reveal what important “revisions” she is asking for before her?

Senator Collins’ office did not immediately respond to a call from NCRM.