With the current Administration in the White House, the U.S. Government has been doing the bare minimum required to protect its people, which, according to Rachel Shepherd, Executive Director of the Pittsburgh Commission on Human Relations (PghCHR), “Isn’t enough.”
The City of Pittsburgh is fighting for you, even if the U.S. Government isn’t.
Shepherd said, “We want to inform people that, although the federal government isn’t accepting discrimination complaints regarding sexual orientation and gender identity/expression, we are. We have recently clarified and strengthened our public accommodations ordinance to ensure it clearly covers discrimination in the provision of gender-affirming healthcare.”
The Pittsburgh Commission on Human Relations (PghCHR) is an independent Commission that provides outreach and education about civil and human rights issues and enforces civil rights protections within the City of Pittsburgh.
The PghCHR has been in existence for a long time, advocating for the rights of its citizens. In 1955, the City of Pittsburgh enacted an ordinance establishing the Commission on Human Relations, which merged the city’s two agencies administering laws prohibiting discrimination in employment: the Pittsburgh Civic Unity Council (established in 1946) and the Fair Employment Practices Commission (established in 1952). As times changed, the Commission expanded its scope, adding sex as a protected class in 1969 and sexual orientation as a protected class in 1990. In 2014, the list of protected classes expanded to include gender identity and expression. The Commission has over sixty years of advocacy experience.
Rachel Shepherd, who started with the PghCHR in 2016 as a secretary, has been the executive director for the last two years. Her background in psychology and Global Cultural Studies, combined with her role as a paralegal, helped prepare her for her career with the Commission. Shepherd said, “I like to help people.”
Alongside issues on Race, Color, Religion, Sex (including Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity, and Gender Expression), Pregnancy (including Childbirth and a Medical Condition Related to Pregnancy or Childbirth), and National Origin, the City Code includes the following protected classes: Ancestry, Place of Birth, Partners of Employees who are Pregnant, Status as a Survivor of Domestic Violence, Natural Hair/Hair Styles and Head Coverings, and Medical Marijuana Patients.
In addition to protections based on physical and mental disabilities, HIV/AIDS status is covered under disability protections. This means that individuals living with HIV or AIDS are legally protected from discrimination in employment, housing, public accommodations, and more. The PghCHR is committed to affirming the rights and dignity of people living with HIV/AIDS.
In 2024, the PghCHR managed sixty-six employment discrimination complaints, twenty-two housing discrimination complaints, four public accommodations complaints, and two complaints alleging discrimination against civil rights. In 2024, the Commission secured over $1 million in monetary relief for complaints through mediated settlements.
While the PghCHR is primarily focused on protecting individuals within the City of Pittsburgh, Shepherd said, “Even if you have a case outside of the city limits, we have relationships with Fair Housing and other agencies around the county.”
The staff at the Pittsburgh Commission on Human Relations attends conferences and training to keep current on civil rights laws. As law and enforcement efforts evolve, the Commission evolves, facing new challenges every day, including an increasing need for interpreters as cases of racial discrimination rise. Shepherd added, “I want everyone to know that this is a safe space.”
The Pittsburgh Commission on Human Relations needs community support. Shepherd said, “If you see something, say something, as the saying goes, even if you’re not the directly affected. Learning about potential or developing problems helps us with training and outreach.”
If you are over nineteen years old and believe you are facing discrimination in employment, housing, renting, or any other civil rights violation, contact the Pittsburgh Commission on Human Relations.
