During Tuesday's press briefing, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) discussed the importance of equal protection under the law.
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00:00And now I'll hand over the podium to Senator Schumer.
00:06Thank you. Thank you, Mark.
00:09Thank you first for the bravery of your struggle and for your leadership on this issue.
00:14I want to thank my colleague, Senator Merkley, who's been our strong advocate for many years on the Equality Act.
00:21And of course, Senator Baldwin, who's been such a leader and has experienced the same kind of political attacks just recently that you did, Mark.
00:29But like you, she survived and prevailed. Thank you, Tammy.
00:35Look, let me say this. We.
00:40Well, it is hard to believe in 2025 that in so many states, not New York, but my daughter and her wife, if they lived in another state, could be told you can't rent this apartment.
00:56You're lesbians. A doctor could say, I don't want to treat you.
01:01You're lesbians. A job, an employer could say the same.
01:09It's amazing. 2025 in America.
01:12People forget how much bigotry and discrimination there is that actually takes effect in law, because the law allows this bigotry and discrimination.
01:31In how many states, Jeff?
01:33Well, we're only at 21.5% of the state.
01:37So in 29 states, if I have my math right.
01:41The bottom line is this.
01:44We achieved marriage.
01:47It was a great thing.
01:48My daughter and her wife have a beautiful baby, and one is on the way, and they're living a good, happy life, just as I was able to live.
02:00But that's because they live in New York.
02:02We must have a national ethos that bigotry is outlawed, and until we pass the Equality Act, that will not be close to true in America.
02:14We're going to do everything we can to pass it.
02:16We're hopeful that good people, people of LBGTQI community, and people who are not part of that community, will tell their congressmen and tell their senators, it's about time.
02:31It's about time here in America that we have this full equality.
02:37I'm committed to the cause personally, politically, and just morally, and will do everything I can to help get our legislation passed in the Senate.