Democrats Promise Swift Passage of Equality Act If Party Wins Senate, White House

In the final push before Election Day, Democrats are leveraging last-minute LGBT voters with a pledge to advance the Equality Act if their party can retake the Senate and elect Hillary Clinton as president.

Rep. David Cicilline introduced the bill to add sexual orientation and gender identity as protected classes under the Civil Rights Act. The bill has languished in the House, where supporters have begged conservative leaders to bring the measure to the floor for debate.

According to BuzzFeed News, Democratic leaders have promised that if they can regain the Senate, the silence on the Equality Act will end. House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi said that "the bill would absolutely be a top priority in the first 100 days" of a Demoratic Senate and Clinton presidency.

The Clinton campaign did not promise a timetable, and other senators have been equally enthusiastic but more sedate on just how long passage might take.

Clinton is leading among LGBTs by almost three-quarters of voters against Republican challenger Donald Trump.