What is a Non-Discrimination Ordinance?
Presently, Pennsylvania law provides basic legal protection against discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, ancestry, age, national origin, handicap or disability, education and the use of a guide dog, but not sexual orientation or gender identity or expression. A non-discrimination ordinance would prohibit discrimination in housing, employment and public accommodation based on all of the above classes and including sexual orientation
and gender identity and expression.
and gender identity and expression.
What are Current Pennsylvania Communities with Non-Discrimination Ordinances?
Currently, the following communities have adopted ordinances that protect all classes of citizens, including the LGBTQIA community. The very first city to adopt a non-discrimination ordinance was the state capitol, Harrisburg in 1983! Since then, areas from Erie and Pittsburgh to Philadelphia and Scranton have enacted similar laws from 1983 to the present.
Several of these ordinances were passed with the help of an organization called Equality Pennsylvania (EQPA). EQPA was founded over 15 years ago as the Center for Lesbian and Gay Civil Rights and eventually grew into Equality Advocates PA. In 2010, the organization restructured into what is now called Equality PA. EQPA is the only organization in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania advocating in Harrisburg and across the state, exclusively for the rights of LGBTQIA Pennsylvanians. For more information please visit their website at: www.EqualityPA.org.
Communities with Ordinances:
Several of these ordinances were passed with the help of an organization called Equality Pennsylvania (EQPA). EQPA was founded over 15 years ago as the Center for Lesbian and Gay Civil Rights and eventually grew into Equality Advocates PA. In 2010, the organization restructured into what is now called Equality PA. EQPA is the only organization in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania advocating in Harrisburg and across the state, exclusively for the rights of LGBTQIA Pennsylvanians. For more information please visit their website at: www.EqualityPA.org.
Communities with Ordinances:
- Philadelphia (Philadelphia Code §§ 9-1102-1105) (1982) (Modified in 2002 to include gender expression)
- Pittsburgh (6 Pittsburgh Code §§ 659.02-04, 07) (1990) (superseded by Allegheny County Ordinance)
- Harrisburg (Harrisburg Human Relations and Discrimination Code, Chapter 4-101) (1992)
- York (City of York Human Relations Ordinance, Ordinance 9-98) (1998)
- Lancaster (Codified Ordinances, Article 185, Chapter 125) (2001)
- Allentown (Codified Ordinances of Allentown § 181.02) (2002)
- New Hope (Ordinance No. 2002-4, Part II, Chapter 129, Sections 1- 6) (2002)
- Scranton (General Code of Scranton § 296) (2003)
- Lansdowne (Anti-Discrimination Ordinance 1215) (2006)
- West Chester (Code of the Borough of West Chester § 37A) (2006)
- Easton (Ordinance No. 4826) (2006)
- Swarthmore (Swarthmore, PA Code of Ordinances Chapter 207) (2006)
- State College (State College Borough Anti-Discrimination Ordinance) (Chapter 207) (2007)
- Erie County (Article II, Ordinance No. 39) (2007)
- Reading (Reading Administrative Code §1-521 through §1-534) (amended 2009)
- Allegheny County (Ordinance No. 26-09-OR) (2009)
- Lower Merion Township (Human Relations Commission; Discrimination Ordinance Chapter 93) (2010)
- Doylestown (Code of the Borough of Doylestown, §§ 357-60) (2010)
- Springfield (Montgomery County) (Springfield Township Code § 47) (2011)
- Newtown (2011)
- Haverford (Haverford Township Ordinance No. 2010-P3-2011) (2011)
- Whitemarsh Township (Whitemarsh Township Code § 3-55.1) (2011)
- Jenkintown (2011)
- Conshohocken (Human Relations Ordinance §§ 6-701 – 710) (2011)
- Bethlehem (2011)
- Susquehanna Township (Daughlin County) (2011)
- Cheltenham Township (Montgomery County) (2012)
- Upper Merion Township (Montgomery County) (Ordinance 2012-808, Ordinance Book #16) (2012)
Why is a Non-Discrimination Ordinance Important?
Currently, Pennsylvania’s Republican-controlled legislature is not likely to pass any pro-LGBTQIA bills, but that does not make us helpless! As seen above, Pennsylvanians are taking equality into their own hands! As seen in the map to the right, the majority of people who reside in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania favor legislation that bans discrimination based upon sexual orientation and gender identity or expression. 69% of surveyed voters in Butler County favor these forms of legislation.
Based upon 2008 US Census Data, 73% of Pennsylvanians are not covered by a non-discrimination ordinance. As made aware above, gridlock in our state legislature will not result in protections within the near future. We are advocating for a local answer to this issue.
Below are some Facts about Non-discrimination Ordinances:
Based upon 2008 US Census Data, 73% of Pennsylvanians are not covered by a non-discrimination ordinance. As made aware above, gridlock in our state legislature will not result in protections within the near future. We are advocating for a local answer to this issue.
Below are some Facts about Non-discrimination Ordinances:
- Currently, there are no protections for LGBTQIA citizens within the areas of employment, housing or public accommodation.
- The anti-discrimination ordinance establishes a Human Rights Commission which mediates complaints of discrimination. It would protect businesses, employers and landlords from frivolous charges and law suits. Any complaint of discrimination must first undergo the mediation of the Commission before any legal action can be taken in the City of Butler. This reduces the chance of persons bringing unfounded complaints to the judicial system.
- It’s an attractive point for new businesses coming to Butler to know that the 7th most attractive small town in the US values all its citizens and protects its business owners. Butler would be a town which does not tolerate discrimination on any level.
- The Human Rights Commission formed by the Ordinance is completely voluntary, is trained without cost and incurs no costs.
What are the next steps for Butler? What can I do?
The Executive Board of PFLAG Butler has decided to reinitiate the advocating of a nondiscrimination ordinance that would protect all classes of citizens within the City of Butler. As mentioned previously, Pennsylvania law provides basic legal protection against discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, ancestry, age, national origin, handicap or disability, education and the use of a guide dog, but not sexual orientation or gender identity or expression. A non-discrimination ordinance would prohibit discrimination in housing, employment and public accommodation based on all of the above classes and including sexual orientation and gender identity and expression. Within the coming weeks and months, information about this ordinance and what it means to each of you as straight allies, friends, family members, and LGBTQIA citizens will be released. Previously, we had advocated for this ordinance; however, we took a break due to various reasons. The Board has appointed Executive Vice President Mitchell Hortert in charge of our new efforts.
If anyone is interested in assisting with these new efforts, please contact Mitchell at [email protected] or call (724) 487-2760. We recognize that this process is going to take time, but we are willing to work long and hard in order to obtain an ordinance that protects all of the citizens within the City of Butler.
If anyone is interested in assisting with these new efforts, please contact Mitchell at [email protected] or call (724) 487-2760. We recognize that this process is going to take time, but we are willing to work long and hard in order to obtain an ordinance that protects all of the citizens within the City of Butler.
Are there resources available to educate myself and others about non-discrimination ordinances?
Ordinance.pdf | |
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Butler Eagle Article from 10-27.pdf | |
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Butler Eagle Article from 1-29.pdf | |
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A Letter from the ACLU.pdf | |
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FAQ's on Gender Inclusive.pdf | |
File Size: | 343 kb |
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