The Equality Act Is Personal for One Day at a Time's Justina Machado

The actress urges everyone to get involved in the proposed anti-discrimination bill.

Neal Broverman

Neal Broverman is the Editorial Director, Print of Pride Media, publishers of The Advocate, Out, Out Traveler, and Plus, spending more than 20 years in journalism. He indulges his interest in transportation and urban planning with regular contributions to Los Angeles magazine, and his work has also appeared in the Los Angeles Times and USA Today. He lives in the City of Angels with his husband, children, and their chiweenie.

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Neal Broverman

April 27 2019 2:33 PM EST

May 31 2023 7:29 PM EST

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"I'm Justina Machado and I'm a proud American for the Equality Act," the actress declares in a new video from the Human Rights Campaign.

Machado signed onto HRC's campaign urging passage of the Equality Act, which would add LGBTQ protections to existing federal law. If passed, the legislation would ban discrimination against queer Americans in housing, employment, and public accomodations, like restrooms. Introduced the Democratic-controlled House, the bill has an uncertain fate in the GOP-controlled Senate; no one knows whether President Trump would sign such legislation.

As Machado points out, all Americans know someone who's LGBTQ. For the actress -- who starred in iconic shows like One Day at a Time and Six Feet Under -- her gay brother is reason enough to get involved in the passage of the Equality Act.

"If my brother were to drive from Los Angeles to Washington, D.C., his rights would change at least a dozen times," Machado says. Watch below.