The Pennsylvania Commission on LGBTQ Affairs issued a letter to the Pennsylvania General Assembly, currently controlled by Republicans, demanding the passage of legislation that would protections for sexual orientation and gender identity.
In June, the Supreme Court ruled that the Civil Rights Act protects against discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity in employment. No such law currently exists or provides those protections in Pennsylvania.
“For too long LGBTQ Pennsylvanians have waited for action from the General Assembly on protections from discrimination and harassment,” said Rafael Álvarez Febo, executive director for the Pennsylvania Commission on LGBTQ Affairs. “The General Assembly’s historic inaction on these bills has placed countless Pennsylvanians at risk for unnecessary hardships and trauma.”
Febo continued, “the Pennsylvania House and Senate are in session this fall, and we’re calling on them to use this valuable time to protect their LGBTQ constituents.”
The letter was co-signed by the executive directors of the Commissions on African American Affairs, Latino Affairs, Asian Pacific American Affairs, and Women.
A number of municipalities across Pennsylvania have local ordinances that protect LGBTQ individuals.
