Gillibrand says she would add gay rights amendment to the 1964 Civil Rights Act

Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) on Sunday said she would support amending the landmark 1964 Civil Rights Act to include gays and lesbians.

Though no such amendment has been offered in Congress, Gillibrand said such a measure would be "transformational" and is "certainly worth fighting for."

"I would [be supportive of that]. I truly believe that this gay rights agenda is the civil rights march of our generation. I think marriage equality, I think repealing DOMA, 'Don't ask, don't tell.' All of that work we're doing is part of equal rights in America and it is something that is so important to this generation," she told Towleroad.com, a gay website.

"I think that kind of bill would be transformational ... Whether we have the votes for that kind of bill today, I don't know.  But it's something certainly worth fighting for," she added. She spoke with the site during an appearance with LGBT activists in New York City.

Since joining the Senate 10 months ago, Gillibrand has been outspoken on gay and lesbian issues. She lobbied Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Carl Levin (D-Mich.) to hold hearings on the military's "Don't ask, don't tell" policy that bans openly gay people from serving. 

Gillibrand filled the seat of now-Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton.

The senator said she remains "quite optimistic" that Congress will repeal "Don't ask, don't tell" because she believes the military will eventually endorse a repeal of the policy and because President Barack Obama has backed the move. 

VIDEO:

---