The U.S. House of Representatives passed the Equality Act Thursday, an essential first hurdle to new LGBTQ protections under existing federal civil rights laws on housing, public access, education and federally funded programs.

But as the legislation now heads to the Senate, LGBTQ advocates in North Carolina say the push for local non-discrimination ordinances must maintain its recent momentum whatever the outcome at the federal level.

"It passed the House but it has an uphill battle in the Senate," said Kendra Johnson, executive director of Equality N.C. "It needs 60 votes in the Senate and as you saw in the almost fully partisan vote in the House, it's going to take some maneuvering to get to that 60 and really ratify the Equality Act."

To read more, head to NC Policy Watch.