IBM chief, biz leaders back LGBTQ ‘Equality Act’

IBM chief Ginni Rometty on Thursday led a group of business leaders pressing Congress to pass the Equality Act, a piece of federal legislation that would guarantee protections for LGBTQ people.

In a letter addressed to Rep. David Cicilline (D-R.I.) and Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Rometty and a host of other powerful CEOs argue the government should enshrine civil rights for gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and queer people.

“Most American companies long ago included sexual orientation and gender identity in their nondiscrimination polices,” Rometty wrote. “It is time for the federal government to do the same.”

Cicilline and Merkley introduced the Equality Act in the House and Senate during the 115th Congress.

Rometty wrote the letter as chairwoman of the Business Roundtable’s “education and workforce” committee. The Business Roundtable is composed of CEOs of the country’s leading corporations.