Cengage Announces Support for Federal Equality Act, Reinforces Commitment to Workplace Inclusivity

U.S. House Bill Would Extend Federal Civil Rights Laws to Protect LGBTQ Individuals from Discrimination

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May 22, 2019, 15:00 ET

BOSTON, May 22, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Cengage, an education and technology company, today announced its support of the federal Equality Act, a House bill that prohibits discrimination based on sex, sexual orientation and gender identity in areas including public accommodations and facilities, education, federal funding, employment, housing, credit and the jury system.

"At Cengage, we are firmly committed to cultivating a diverse and inclusive workplace," said Todd Markson, Chief Strategy Officer, Cengage. "Everyone should have a fair chance to earn a living and provide a home for their families without fear of harassment or discrimination. We are a company that aims to advance an inclusive environment where all employees are treated with respect and dignity."

"Any form of discrimination is against our core values, and directly conflicts with our mission to lower the barriers and provide access to affordable, high-quality learning experiences to students," Markson continued.

While substantial strides have been made to promote workplace inclusion, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) Americans lack basic legal protections in a number of states across the U.S. Current U.S. civil rights laws protect people on the basis of race, color, national origin and, in most cases, sex, disability and religion. However, federal laws do not provide consistent non-discrimination protections based on sexual orientation or gender identity. The Equality Act (H.R. 5) was introduced in the U.S. House and Senate on March 13, 2019 as a means of addressing this gap in the current law to protect LGBTQ Americans. The bill was introduced with 287 original cosponsors—the most congressional support that any piece of pro-LGBTQ legislation has received upon introduction.

To demonstrate its commitment to inclusivity for all employees, Cengage joined the Human Rights Campaign Business Coalition for the Equality Act, a group of leading U.S. employers that support federal legislation that would provide equal protections to LGBTQ people. Launched in March 2016, HRC's Business Coalition for the Equality Act includes companies operated in every state, headquarters across 30 states and have a combined $4.7 trillion in revenue. The 216 companies that make up the coalition employ over 10.9 million people in the United States.

Support of this bill aligns with the Cengage commitment to support equal rights for its LGBTQ employees and the wider community. The company advances this, and its dedication to diversity more broadly, in a variety of ways. This includes the company's Employee Resource Groups, which are voluntary, employee-led groups organized around shared experiences or affinity to help to build a positive and supportive workplace.

To learn more about the Equality Act, visit: https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/house-bill/5 or https://www.hrc.org/resources/the-equality-act. For more information about Cengage, visit: https://www.cengage.com/.

About Cengage
Cengage is the education and technology company built for learners. As the largest US-based provider of teaching and learning materials for higher education, we offer valuable options at affordable price points. Our industry-leading initiatives include Cengage Unlimited, the first-of-its-kind all-access digital subscription service. We embrace innovation to create learning experiences that build confidence and momentum toward the future students want. Headquartered in Boston, Cengage also serves K-12, library and workforce training markets around the world. Visit us at www.cengage.com or find us on Facebook or Twitter.

Media Contacts:
Emily Featherston, Cengage
617.757.8035, [email protected]

Lindsay Stanley, Cengage
203.965.8634, [email protected]

SOURCE Cengage