LOCAL NEWS: State Senator Proposes Three LGBTQ Nondiscrimination Bills

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Three bills introduced in the Pennsylvania Senate propose to update the Human Relations Act to include LGBTQ protections.

Late last week, Republican State Senator Pat Browne proposed three new bills geared toward updating the Pennsylvania Human Relations Act, which currently excludes protections for sexual orientation and gender identity and expression. The law currently allows for discrimination against LGBTQ Pennsylvanians in the areas of employment, housing and business, and government services, which have been the basis of a heated national discussion on equal rights in recent years.

SB 1307 would add protections for sexual orientation and gender identity in reference to housing in the state. In SB 1306, Browne proposes the end of discrimination in employment based on sexual orientation and gender identity. The third bill — which was set to also be introduced but is not yet available through the state legislative site — was slated to propose a ban on LGBT discrimination in public accommodations. Sen. Browne’s office did not respond to a request for comment on the status of the latter proposal.

“For more than a decade we have gathered support for nondiscrimination protections for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people, and in the past two years we have seen unprecedented support from voters, businesses and people of faith in the Keystone State,” said Ted Martin, executive director of Equality PA. “That’s why it is exciting to see movement to secure comprehensive nondiscrimination protections now. Each bill represents an important step forward in our fight for equality.”

However, many advocates are divided on the choice of a separation of bills. On Tuesday, the American Civil Liberties Union of Pennsylvania released a statement against SB 1307 because it did not include all protections to employment and public accommodations. “This really should be an all-or-nothing deal,” a ACLU-PA staffer who asked to remain anonymous told G Philly. “By breaking up these laws, it gives politicians the opportunity to pick and choose which rights they believe the LGBT community deserves. They deserve all of them in one simple bill.”

Matters have only gotten more complex as the Senate Committee meeting scheduled for today to consider the recent proposals was canceled without much explanation and projected to be rescheduled for next week.

Meanwhile, House members are attempting to bring about the long-delayed PA Fairness Act (which addresses all of the nondiscrimination changes in one bill) through a state government committee as a discharge resolution. This would allow the legislation to bypass a committee vote if passed by the committee.

Philly’s gay nightclub community is holding a charity benefit to help offset expenses for the families of Orlando shooting victims.

Tonight, ICandy will be hosting a charity fundraiser titled Heartbeat: A Benefit for the Victims of the Pulse nightclub tragedy in Orlando to unite Philly’s LGBTQ community to “honor the victims of the shooting at Pulse Nightclub and raise money for their families to help offset funeral and medical bills.” Between 9 p.m. to midnight, you can see performances by Bev, Brooklyn Ford, Ariel Versace, Mimi Imfurst, Vinchelle, and more with all drink specials and gift raffles from local and national businesses chiming in to help with the cause. There is a suggested $3 to $10 donation, and for those who cannot attend are encouraged to donated to Equality Florida’s official GoFundMe charity that plans to help donate funds to victim’s families.