Congress Can Affirm LGBTQ+ Students by Passing the Equality Act
Matty Mendez
On Feb. 25, the House passed sweeping protections for the LGBTQIA+ community in the form of H.R. 5, commonly cited as the Equality Act. The Equality Act amends the Civil Rights Act, extending protections against discrimination on the basis of sex, gender identity, and sexual orientation. The bill, which passed with a bipartisan majority of 224-206, would implement the first federal protections for LGBTQ+ citizens in our nation’s history, should it survive the Senate and land on President Biden’s desk.
The House vote spurred an office feud between legislators as Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA), an outspoken opponent to the civil rights legislation, clashed with the occupant of the office across the hall from her’s, Representative Marie K. Newman (D-IL), a supporter of the legislation who has a trans daughter.
Mississippi State University s New Maroon Camp staff continued its history of providing lots of safe fun for MSU students by hosting a COVID-19-safe dodgeball tournament on Jan. 23 in the Sanderson Center.
Braden Lewis, a junior majoring in chemical engineering, is the external affairs coordinator for New Maroon Camp. Lewis oversees fundraisers that provide scholarships for incoming students to attend New Maroon Camp while creating fun opportunities for current students and MSU community members. I am in charge of fundraising, and that entails helping staff reach their own personal fundraising goals, as well as going around to different businesses in the area in hopes that they will aid us in funding camp, Lewis said. A big goal for our fundraisers â in addition to raising money â is to help form a community on campus and to get students involved in a fun activity while simultaneously raising money for a good cause.