It’s that time of the year! Well, biannually speaking as the Human Rights Campaign issues its scorecard rating all the members of the just ending Congress (Congresses last for two years, then it’s election time for members of the House of Representatives and 1/3 of the Senate). Obviously since this is the HRC they are ranking comgressional members on how they supported votes dealing with issues of LGBTQ+ equality including confirmation hearings for cabinet level positions and judicial nominees.
Almost 200 Members Receive Perfect Scores in Supporting Pro-LGBTQ+ Legislation and Other Votes of Importance to the LGBTQ+ Community
Zero Republicans Earn a Perfect Score
WASHINGTON — The Human Rights Campaign (HRC) — the nation’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ+) civil rights organization — has released its Congressional Scorecard measuring support for LGBTQ+ equality in the 117th Congress. Members of Congress were scored based on a range of key indicators of support — from votes in the House to pass pro-equality legislation like the Respect for Marriage Act and Equality Act to votes in the Senate to confirm historic, pro-LGBTQ+ Biden-Harris cabinet officials and judicial nominees, as well as co-sponsorships in both chambers on pieces of legislation that significantly impact LGBTQ+ people and their families.
“This term, LGBTQ+ rights have been under attack in state legislatures like never before, and new questions have arisen over whether the Supreme Court can be relied on to follow its own precedents in favor of LGBTQ+ equality. In this reality, the pro-equality majorities in the House and Senate, alongside the Biden administration, have advanced an inclusive legislative agenda that stands as a bulwark against these severe anti-LGBTQ+ attacks,” said Human Rights Campaign Interim President Joni Madison. “On the eve of the 2022 midterm elections, the Congressional Scorecard for the 117th Congress is an indispensable guide to understanding which members of Congress could be relied upon when LGBTQ+ equality was on the line during the past two years, standing up for a marginalized community facing some of the gravest threats it has ever seen.”
For the 117th Congress, 194 members of Congress earned a perfect 100 score. That total includes 193 Democrats and one Independent in the House and Senate. In comparison, zero Republicans earned perfect scores.
The pro-equality majority in the House resulted in the opportunity for Representatives to vote on a number of crucial measures, including, the Equality Act, the Respect for Marriage Act, legislation ensuring LGBTQ+ people have access to critical safety net programs, inclusive data collection, and global LGBTQ+ rights. LGBTQ+ people aren’t just impacted by laws that specifically mention them by name, which is why we include votes on legislation impacting some of the most marginalized in our community, including gun violence prevention, immigration reform, voting rights, and access to abortion.
In the 50-50 Senate, with a pro-equality majority, the chamber saw the first Senate-confirmed LGBTQ+ cabinet member in Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, and the first transgender person confirmed by the Senate, Adm. Rachel Levine, as Assistant Secretary for Health. They confirmed Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson as the first Black woman on the U.S. Supreme Court. The Senate also held its first-ever hearing on the Equality Act and is positioned to consider and pass the Respect for Marriage Act before the end of its term.
In addition to these crucial votes, the Congressional Scorecard tracks co-sponsorship of pro-equality legislation, including on conversion therapy, reforming the Religious Freedom Restoration Act, global LGBTQ+ rights, access to HIV prevention medication, non-discrimination in foster care and adoption, and anti-bullying.
The HRC Congressional Scorecard is a snapshot of the most significant actions in the current Congress related to LGBTQ+ issues. It reflects votes and co-sponsorships, but does not measure all actions individual Members of Congress take, either positive or negative.
By the Numbers:
- 194 Members of Congress earned perfect scores (193 Democrats, 1 Independent, 0 Republicans).
- 148 Members of Congress earned a zero score.
- 167 members of the House received a perfect 100 score, while 136 received zero scores.
- The average score for Representatives is 53.5
- Average score for Democratic Representatives is 98.5
- Average score for Republican Representatives is 5.7
- 27 members of the Senate received a perfect 100 score, while 12 received zero scores.
- The average score for Senators is 53.4
- Average score for Democratic Senators is 96.8
- Average score for Republican Senators is 10.1
What Was Scored:
Senate Votes:
- Anti-Transgender Amendment to the American Rescue Plan
- John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act
- Ending the Filibuster to have a vote on the Freedom to Vote: John R. Lewis Act
- Women’s Health Protection Act
- Bipartisan Safer Communities Act
- Confirmation of Pete Buttigieg to be Secretary of Transportation
- Confirmation of Rachel Levine to be Assistant Secretary of Health and Human Services
- Confirmation of Ketanji Brown Jackson to be Associate Justice of the Supreme Court
- Confirmation of Beth Robinson to be a U.S. Circuit Judge
- Confirmation of Alison Nathan to be a U.S. Circuit Judge
- Impeachment of Donald Trump
Senate Co-Sponsorships:
- Equality Act
- Do No Harm Act
- Therapeutic Fraud Prevention Act
- Safe Schools Improvement Act
- International Human Rights Defense Act
- John Lewis Every Child Deserves a Family Act
- PrEP Access and Coverage Act
House Votes:
- Equality Act
- American Dream and Promise Act
- Bipartisan Background Checks Act
- John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act
- Violence Against Women Act Reauthorization Act
- LGBTQ Business Equal Credit Enforcement and Investment Act
- Anti-LGBTQ+ Amendments to FY 2022 Appropriations Bill
- Women’s Health Protection Act
- Family Violence Prevention and Services Improvement Act
- Global Respect Act
- LGBTQI+ Data Inclusion Act
- Bipartisan Safer Communities Act
- Respect for Marriage Act
- Impeachment of Donald Trump
House Co-Sponsorships:
- Do No Harm Act
- Therapeutic Fraud Prevention Act
- Safe Schools Improvement Act
- John Lewis Every Child Deserves a Family Act
- PrEP Access and Coverage Act
Other House Action:
- House Discharge Petition on the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act
The HRC Scorecard for the 117th Congress is available online at www.hrc.org/scorecard.
The Human Rights Campaign is America’s largest civil rights organization working to achieve equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer people. HRC envisions a world where LGBTQ+ people are embraced as full members of society at home, at work and in every community.
About the Author: Michael Strangeways
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