H.R. 1543 — EQUITY Act

This section states congressional findings on the history of service in the Armed Forces by women, Black, Native American, and LGBTQIA+ Americans—including key laws such as Executive Order 9981 (1948), the Women's Armed Services Integration Act (1948), Public Law 90-130 (1967), the Don't Ask, Don't Tell Repeal Act of 2010, and Executive Order 13988 (2021)—and declares that Armed Forces members should be evaluated based solely on individual merit, fitness, capability, and performance in an environment free of discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity, or sexual orientation.

This section prohibits discrimination within the Department of Defense against an individual on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, gender identity, or sexual orientation, provided that service eligibility qualifications consider only the individual's ability to meet general occupational standards for military service and the particular military occupational specialty. It defines gender identity as an individual's gender-related identity, appearance, mannerisms, or other characteristics regardless of designated sex at birth; sex to include sex stereotypes, pregnancy or related medical conditions, and sex characteristics (including intersex traits); and sex stereotype to include expectations regarding masculinity or femininity, gender representation through behavior or appearance, consistent identification with one gender, or sex-based roles.