Because equality doesn't specify what is meant to be equal. Everything? Genes? Height? Favorite color? Allocation of limited resources? Mastodon themes?

I don't want everyone to be the same, and even if I did it seems to be an unattainable goal.

No, the desire almost always expressed by 'equality' refers to value, that the one human is fundamentally valued the same as another human. 'Equivalent' specifies equality of value.