Joe.My.God. LGBT News
Yahoo News reports:
Pennsylvania formalized nondiscrimination protections for LGBTQ people after a regulatory board approved new definitions of sex, race and religious creed in the commonwealth’s anti-discrimination regulations.
The new regulatory changes provide a more comprehensive definition of the terms “sex,” “religious creed” and “race” as protected classes so that victims of discrimination can better understand how they are protected by anti-discrimination laws.
The Independent Regulatory Review Commission approved the revisions with three members appointed by Democrats voting yes and two Republican-appointed members voting no.
From Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf:
“I have been clear – hate has no place in Pennsylvania, This includes protecting the rights of individuals facing discrimination by a school, landlord, or employer based on who they love or their gender identity.
“Today’s approval by the commonwealth’s Independent Regulatory Review Commission is another important step to ensure all Pennsylvanians can live with dignity and freedom.”
The governor has long called for LGBTQ protections and has taken steps as governor to ensure protections; specifically, he signed an executive order last year that adds sexual orientation and gender identity or expression as protected classes under the commonwealth’s sexual harassment policies.
The latest final form regulation approved today provides individuals with protections from discrimination under the PA Human Relations Act and the PA Fair Education Opportunities Act. Following today’s approval, the new regulatory change is effective immediately.
Currently, Pennsylvania is one of 21 states without a law banning this discrimination. The governor supported House Bill 300, the Fairness Act, which would have protected Pennsylvanians from discrimination in employment, housing, and public accommodations on the basis of sexual orientation, gender identity or expression.
Republican-led efforts diminished the two proposed bills, leaving action through regulation a way for the Wolf Administration to protect Pennsylvanians.
News: Discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity is now officially covered under Pennsylvania’s 1955 non-discrimination law under a rule change approved by a state regulatory review board Thursday. More on the rule here: https://t.co/kR74Hq3JOS
— Stephen Caruso (@StephenJ_Caruso) December 8, 2022