- CBN's Jenna Browder followed the hearing

and begins our coverage tonight.

(logo whooshes)

- Today's hearing allowed both sides

to voice their concerns.

One common theme:

discrimination againstany American is wrong.

Republicans though did wantto make one thing clear,

and that's that the Equality Act

could diminish religious freedom.

- Discrimination remains a daily reality.

- [Jenna] Wisconsin Senator Tammy Baldwin,

the first openly gay senator,

says a lot of progress has beenmade for the LGBT community

since she first cameto Washington in 1999.

- [Protesters] Trans lives matter!

- [Jenna] But more is needed.

She and her Democratic colleagues

think the Equality Act is the next step.

- One out of three LGBTQ Americans,

including three out offive transgender Americans,

experienced discriminationover the past year.

- No person should bediscriminated against in America.

No one.

That's who we are.

It's a basic constitutional principle.

- [Jenna] And while Republicans

like Senator James Lankfordagree on that point,

they also want to make surereligious freedom is protected.

- For the people thatbelieve children of any age

or size or degree ofdevelopment are worthy of life,

we're not bigots.

We're people who live by our genuine faith

and see a child as a child.

- [Jenna] The Equality Act would expand

the 1964 Civil Rights Actby broadening the definition

of protected classes toinclude sexual orientation

and gender identity.

Senator Chuck Grassley raised concerns

about what the legislation would mean

for religious institutions.

- What will happen to Catholic

or Methodist affiliated hospitals

which provide excellentservice to the public

if this bill is enacted?

- [Jenna] And for women's sports.

- This accomplished athletehas been forced to compete

against biological men.

- Conservative groups likeThe Heritage Foundation

and Family Research counciloppose the Equality Act,

and nearly 60 black pastorshave signed a letter

voicing their opposition to it too.

They're endorsing theFairness for All Act instead,

which would offer LGBTQcivil rights protections

in areas like housing and employment,

while still protecting religious freedom.

And the Equality Act doesface an uphill battle

in the Senate.

Senator Susan Collins of Maine has said

she will only support it ifcertain amendments are made,

including religious exemptions.

Jenna Browder, CBN News.