Philadelphia LGBTQ Bar Association & Independence Business Alliance Urge Passage of Pennsylvania Fairness Act
Philadelphia, PA – May 3, 2023: The Independence Business Alliance and the Philadelphia LGBTQ Bar Association applaud the passage of House Bill 300, known as the Pennsylvania Fairness Act, by the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, which expands civil rights protections to the LGBTQ+ community in employment, housing, and public accommodations. This historic moment brings us one step closer to achieving equality for all Pennsylvanians, and brings Pennsylvania’s civil rights protections laws closer in line with federal law and our neighboring states.
The Pennsylvania Fairness Act works to prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity, and expression and would ensure that every LGBTQ+ person in Pennsylvania would have legal recourse against acts of bias and discrimination which remain far too common in our Commonwealth. This legislation is a long overdue recognition of the dignity and worth of LGBTQ+ people, and it will help to ensure that all Pennsylvanians are treated fairly and equitably. Significantly, the Pennsylvania Fairness Act contains important provisions in favor of religious exercise and freedom and would safeguard the constitutional liberties of religious organizations throughout Pennsylvania. Despite the inclusion of religious freedom protections, however, the bill passed on a near-party-line vote with just a four-vote margin, showing the need for political courage for senators and other advocates in the LGBTQ+ community to make a concentrated bipartisan push in favor of the Pennsylvania Fairness Act.
“This is an important step forward for civil rights in Pennsylvania,” said Kevin Levy, Chair of the Philadelphia LGBTQ Bar Association. “The Pennsylvania Fairness Act will help to ensure that queer people across the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania are treated with the same dignity and respect as everyone else and have vital legal protections to vindicate their rights under state law. We will continue to work tirelessly to ensure that every person in Pennsylvania is treated with the respect, dignity, and fairness they deserve.”
“It’s essential to our local and Commonwealth economy that all citizens have nondiscrimination protections which ensure those basic freedoms to earn a living, rent or own a home, and participate fully in the community, and we applaud the Pennsylvania House of Representatives for memorializing those protections for LGBTQ+ individuals,” said Zach Wilcha, CEO of the Independence Business Alliance. “The IBA encourages the Pennsylvania Senate to send House Bill 300 to Governor Shapiro’s desk so that our Commonwealth may join the rest of that states in the Northeast of the United States by enacting this comprehensive non-discriminatory statute that protects the rights of the LGBTQ+ community.”
The Philadelphia LGBTQ Bar Association & the Independence Business Alliance call on the Pennsylvania Senate to follow the lead of the House of Representatives and swiftly pass House Bill 300. We also call on Governor Josh Shapiro to expeditiously sign the bill into law, and thereby demonstrate his commitment to fairness, equality, and justice for all Pennsylvanians.
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About Us:
The Philadelphia LGBTQ Bar Association is a nonprofit, nonpartisan membership organization dedicated to the advancement of the welfare and full equality of the LGBTQ+ community, the promotion of the expertise and advancement of LGBTQ+ legal professionals in the greater Philadelphia metropolitan area, and the education of the larger community on LGBTQ+ legal issues. The Association’s mission also includes promoting the welfare of society by advocating for the civil and human rights of all persons, regardless of race, creed, gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity, or national origin.
The Independence Business Alliance (IBA) is the LGBTQ+ Chamber of Commerce for Greater Philadelphia and an affiliate of the National LGBT Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC.) Providing opportunities, access, and resources for LGBTQ+ businesses, employees, and our visible allies, the IBA advocates for, educates, and connects our LGBTQ+ and business communities. The IBA houses award-winning programming including the Intersections Program and TransWork, the first trans-focused economic empowerment program run out of a Chamber of Commerce. The IBA is a founding member of the Diverse Chambers Coalition of Greater Philadelphia.
