Allegheny County Council this week unanimously passed a bill to include Medical Care in its nondiscrimination protections that previously included housing, employment, and public accommodations. Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald signed the bill into law.
The Allegheny County nondiscrimination laws means that individuals in the protected classes of race, color, religion, national origin or ancestry, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, disability, marital status, family status, age, or individuals who us a guide or support animal can not be legally discriminated against and denied service when seeking medical care. Medical care is specifically defined as care from physicians, physical therapists, nursing homes, psychiatric care, and other forms of health care.
The bill was introduced by County Councilman Paul Klein, Democrat from Shadyside, in response to the Trump Administration’s decision to roll back LGBTQ patient protections.
“This is yet another rule or regulation put forward by this administration that defines sex discrimination as only applying when someone faces discrimination for being male or female,” said Councilman Klein on June 23, according to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
