ASSOCIATION NEWS
IN WASHINGTON D.C.’S BLAGDEN ALLEY, THE LOVE MURAL STANDS AS A SYMBOL OF POSITIVITY AND INCLUSION. LISA MARIE
THALHAMMER PAINTED IT 2017 AS PART OF THE DC ALLEY MUSEUM, A PROJECT SHE CO-FOUNDED. COURTESY OF THALHAMMER,
THIS IMAGE IS AVAILABLE AS A FINE ART ARCHIVAL PIGMENT PRINT. “I CALL IT ‘LOVE REFLECTIONS’ IN CELEBRATION OF THE MURAL’S
ONE-YEAR ANNIVERSARY,” SAID THALHAMMER. “I CAPTURED THE IMAGE IN THE RAIN SO THAT THE COLORS WOULD REFLECT ON
THE WET BRICK.” FIND MORE OF LISA’S WORK AT LISAMARIESTUDIO.COM AND FOLLOW HER ON INSTAGRAM AT @LISAMARIESTUDIO.
Fragrance Creators Signs Letter
in Support of the Equality Act
The measure would provide employment non-discrimination
protections based on sexual orientation and gender identity
On March 13, 2019, Fragrance Creators
joined nearly 50 industry organizations in
signing on to a letter in support of the pas-
sage of the Equality Act, which would would
provide “consistent and explicit non-discrim-
ination protections for LGBTQ people across
key areas of life, including employment,
housing, credit, education, public spaces and
services, federally funded programs, and jury
service,” according to the Human Rights
Campaign. Jointly introduced in the United
States House of Representatives and the
United States Senate with Democratic and
Republican support, The Equality Act would
amend the Civil Rights Act to prohibit dis-
crimination on the basis of sexual orientation
or gender identity.
Addressed to Speaker of the House of
Representatives Nancy Pelosi, Senate Leader
Mitch McConnell, House Minority Leader
Kevin McCarthy, and Senate Minorty Leader
24 | FRAGRANCENOTES.ORG | Issue 1, 2019
Chuck Schumer, the letter states: “The
undersigned trade and professional associa-
tions support provisions in the Equality Act
that amend Title VII of the Civil Rights Act
to provide employment non-discrimination
protections based on sexual orientation and
gender identity. Equality of opportunity is a
key pillar of our great democracy—one that
allows all people to pursue their American
Dream—and part of what makes our nation
exceptional. Our industries, representing tens
of millions of Americans, understand this
basic fact and have been at the forefront of
efforts to combat discrimination based on
sexual orientation and gender identity in the
workplace.
We believe an appropriately-tailored
federal standard would complement our
members’ ongoing work to promote equal
opportunity in the workplace. A clear federal
standard would better enable individuals to
succeed based on their abilities and qualifica-
tions to perform a job. Our members recog-
nize the value of equal opportunity because
it enables them to attract and retain the most
talented employees.
Title VII of the Civil Rights Act provides
a well-understood legal framework for
preventing and addressing discrimination.
Amending the Act to include protections
based on sexual orientation and gender
identity is a sensible approach to ensure con-
sistency with other protected classes.
We look forward to working with Con-
gress to promote and perfect the Equality
Act, as we believe it meets these criteria.”
“Fragrance Creators is proud to support
The Equality Act,” said President & CEO
Farah K. Ahmed. “We’re proud to use our
voice, our political and industry relation-
ships, and our influence to stand up and
advocate for what we believe is right.”