by Jake Kaskey and Andy Hoover
As the election nears and as many people’s thoughts and efforts begin to be geared toward November 4, we feel it is critically important to look back at the state of LGBT issues in Pennsylvania and the historic progress the LGBT community has made in Harrisburg this legislative session.
In early 2007, a record number of bipartisan co-sponsors came together to introduce House Bill 1400 and Senate Bill 761, legislation to amend the Pennsylvania Human Relations Act to prohibit discrimination in employment, housing, and public accommodations based upon one’s sexual orientation or gender identity and expression.
Representative Dan Frankel (D-Pittsburgh) and Representative Chris Ross (R-Chester County) as well as Senator Patrick Browne (R-Allentown) worked tirelessly to promote these bills to fellow legislators and enlist support across the aisle, and from every corner of the state. Local activists and organizations, such as Erie PFLAG, called and met with their officials, and as a result brought unprecedented visibility to this issue.
While the bill stalled in the Senate Judiciary Committee, State Government Committee Chairwoman Babette Josephs (D-Philadelphia) committed unprecedented resources to educating her committee on the need for this legislation. Public hearings were held in Erie, Pittsburgh, and Philadelphia in the fall of 2007, which brought together people of all backgrounds to testify in support of this legislation, including representatives from the Philadelphia Bar Association, Womens Law Project, ACLU, Equality Advocates, the clergy, and countless others. These hearings marked the very first time LGBT non-discrimination legislation was discussed in this setting, and brought tremendous momentum, as well as the spotlight, to an issue vitally important to LGBT people.
As momentum grew to move non-discrimination legislation forward in the House, opponents introduced Senate Bill 1250, an amendment to the Pennsylvania constitution that would have defined marriage as solely between one man and one woman, as well as prohibit civil unions. Thousands of people, both LGBT and heterosexual, from every part of the state jumped into action, and let their legislators know there is no place in our constitution for discrimination. As the Senate Judiciary Committee held hearings on the ill-conceived bill, hundreds of people from the LGBT community traveled to Harrisburg to rally on the steps of the Capitol Rotunda, and in one loud voice sent a strong and clear message to our elected officials- do not harm our families. With House Leadership vocally pushing back against the bill, it was withdrawn from consideration in the Senate. Together, as one community, we again stopped this discriminatory action dead in its tracks, and protected same-sex and unmarried heterosexual relationships across the state.
Over the course of the past two years, thousands of people have become involved in unprecedented ways- attending advocacy trainings, e-mailing and calling their legislators, rallying in the capitol, and sitting down with their elected officials. Organizations committed to equality for the LGBT community came together through the Value All Families Coalition and Faith Coalition for Pennsylvania Families, and worked with legislators to promote fairness for LGBT people.
Obviously, as this session ends and another lies just months ahead, there is much work to do. This summer the Pennsylvania Supreme Court struck down hate crime protections for LGBT people, and we must continue to push hard to pass protections against discrimination in the workplace and in housing; but as one community, with committed and hard-working members of the legislature, we have laid a strong foundation and built momentum to make tremendous strides in the coming year. A new legislative session brings incredible potential to improve the lives of LGBT people across this state, and together, as one community, we will move forward toward full equality.
Jake Kaskey is Education and Outreach Coordinator of Equality Advocates Pennsylvania. Andy Hoover is Legislative Director of American Civil Liberties Union of Pennsylvania
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