Gender Justice & LGBTQI+ Rights

Rashida is fighting for people of all genders and sexualities to have the protection and freedom that we all deserve.

As a lawyer at the nonprofit Sugar Law Center for Economic & Social Justice, Rashida protected civil rights. And since becoming a Congressperson, Rashida has introduced and supported policies to expand civil rights protections for women’s and LGBTQI+ people’s rights.

Rashida joined the Equality Caucus and the Black Maternal Health Caucus, and has focused on improving Black maternal health in the Mamas’ Caucus, which she co-founded and co-leads. She will continue fighting for reproductive justice, health equity, and the right to access abortion care.

Rashida advocates for trans and gender-nonconforming people’s rights, including the right to receive medically necessarily gender-affirming healthcare.

Ongoing discrimination impacts LGBTQI+ people in so many areas of life, including getting a job, finding a place to live, getting served in stores, and more. As Black trans women are murdered and targeted for violence, and as lawmakers from the state to federal level intensify their attacks on transgender youth and adults, it’s especially crucial that we come together in support of trans people and trans rights.

Rashida will continue fighting for everyone, of all genders and sexualities, to have the protection and freedom to thrive that we all deserve. She supports survivors and she will continue pushing back against transphobia, homophobia, sexism, and misogynoir.

Rashida is committed to building a society where every person can live openly as their authentic selves, surrounded by safety and love.

Here are some of the ways Rashida has pushed for reproductive justice, LGBTQI+ people’s and women’s rights, and gender justice in Congress:

Voted to pass multiple bills to secure abortion rights, to secure the right to travel across states to receive abortion care, and to protect abortion providers.
Fundraised for abortion funds across the country to expand access to care—including the local Reclaim MI WIN Fund, which is the only abortion fund in Southeastern Michigan.
Founded the Mamas’ Caucus in Congress in partnership with Mothering Justice to center and advocate for mothers of color and their families. Mothers of color—especially Black women—face unjust maternal and infant health disparities along with economic disparities. They’re also leaders in the fight for reproductive justice and policies such as affordable childcare and paid leave.
Introduced the Justice for All Act, historic legislation that pushes back against decades of conservative court rulings to restore the original intent of our civil rights laws. It would combat intentional and unintentional discrimination against people based on race, color, religion, sex, disability, age, or national origin—and it would clarify the definition of “sex” to include sexual orientation, pregnancy, gender identity, sex stereotypes, or any sex-related traits.
Introduced resolution about violence against women in politics, after regular death threats against her and other women in Congress (particularly women of color). Together, we’re building a world in which women are free to fight for their communities and serve in government without fear of violence.
Secured an amendment in the LGTBQI+ Data Inclusion Act to protect identifiable information. In the midst of the GOP’s hateful war on LGBTQI+ Americans, this critical amendment would protect individuals’ privacy and secure demographic data as agencies collect information to better serve the LGBTQI+ community.
Original cosponsor of the Transgender Bill of Rights and the Transgender Health Care Access Act.
Original cosponsor of the Equality Act, which would extend civil rights protections to prohibit discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity, in public and private spaces. It passed the House in prior years, but not the Senate.
Fundraised for local groups such as the Trans Sistas of Color Project and the Ruth Ellis Center. Secured $1 million through legislation for the Ruth Ellis Center to provide safe, affordable, identity-affirming housing for marginalized Black and brown Detroiters, especially LGBTQ+ youth.
Held a subcommittee hearing on the housing and lending discrimination faced by the LGBTQ+ community, where she challenged HUD’s attacks on transgender people, including people who are experiencing homelessness and people who need to change their IDs to match their gender.
Met with and advocated for survivors of sexual abuse, and supported pro-survivor policies such as the DEFIANCE Act.
Advocated for ratifying the Equal Rights Amendment, which would expand access to equitable healthcare including reproductive care; protect LGBTQI+ people; and strengthen legal protections against pay discrimination, gender-based violence, and unequal treatment in education, employment, and health care. Rashida was recognized as a recipient of the Equal Rights Champion Award.
Fundraised for the Indigenous-led Sovereign Bodies Institute, which is working to end gender and sexual violence against Indigenous people, including Two Spirit people.
Fought to get rid of the racist Hyde amendment, which has blocked many low-wealth people, people of color, and gender non-conforming people from getting abortions. Rashida is now fighting for increased funding for and access to Medicaid, CHIP, Medicare, and other essential healthcare.
Pushed for the Senate to pass the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act after it passed in the House. It would expands protection for transgender women to access women’s shelters, and end the longstanding unjust impunity for non-Native perpetrators of sexual assault, stalking, sex trafficking, and child abuse co-occurring with domestic violence.
Joined the LGBTQ+ Equality Caucus and the Black Maternal Health Caucus in Congress.
Participated in a congressional briefing about the human rights violations trans immigrants are facing in detention centers.