Travel Industry Titans Support LGBTQ+ Rights and the Equality Act

Some of the biggest names in travel have come out to support LGBTQ+ rights being guaranteed through legislation. Companies urging Congress to support the Equality Act include: Airbnb, Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Caesars Entertainment Corp, Delta Air Lines Inc, Expedia Group, Hilton Inc, Hyatt Hotels Corp, IHG Hotels & Resorts, Lyft Inc, Marriott International Inc, MGM Resorts International, Southwest Airlines Co, Uber Technologies, United Airlines, Walt Disney Co., Wyndham Hotels & Resorts Inc, and Yelp Inc. (See full list here) These companies recognize that diversity is good for their bottom-lines. Can they convince Republicans to support the Equality Act?

The following initially appeared on Advocate.com. Read the original version here.

More than 400 major U.S. businesses have endorsed the Equality Act.

The Business Coalition for the Equality Act, which supports the passage of the LGBTQ+ civil rights legislation, has grown to include dozens of Fortune 500 companies, among them Apple, General Motors, Facebook, PepsiCo, Starbucks, Marriott, and Capital One.

"At Marriott, we believe that every individual, including those in the LGBTQ community, should feel welcome, safe and respected when they enter one of our properties," the hotel company said in a statement. Under the leadership of Arne Sorenson (who passed away earlier this year) Marriott has been vocal in support of the queer community. "As a global hospitality leader, our principles of non-discrimination extend to all travelers, and include sexual orientation and gender identity. That is why we are proud to join with the Human Rights Campaign and support passage of the Equality Act, to help ensure equality under the law as well as under our own roof."

The Equality Act, which passed February in the U.S. House of Representatives and awaits a Senate vote, would expand nationwide protections for LGBTQ+ people in employment and housing, and would ban such discrimination in other aspects of life including education, credit, jury service, federal funding, housing, and public accommodations. Most states — 29 — lack these protections, although a vast majority of Americans, 70 percent, support the legislation, according to recent polling from Hart Research.

"We are seeing growing support from business leaders because they understand that the Equality Act is good for their employees, good for their businesses and good for our country," said Alphonso Davis, president of the Human Rights Campaign, which reported the news of the Business Coalition's growth in a release.

"Employers care about their employees’ ability to rent an apartment, send their kids to school, visit the dentist, and pick up the groceries free from discrimination," he added. "They realize that when LGBTQ employees and their family members are protected in their daily lives, it makes them more secure and confident in their jobs, and also more productive. Thank you to every company that is speaking up and advocating for the passage of the Equality Act. It’s time for the Senate to listen to the business community and the public and pass this long overdue legislation."