Without state law, Pa. towns tackle anti-gay bias

[davidinalameda]

The Pennsylvania state lawmaker who has long championed a bill to ban discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity says he's optimistic for its chances in the future.

Allegheny County state Rep. Dan Frankel's bill attracted a record 71 co-sponsors, including two Republicans, and even passed narrowly out of the State Government Committee. But it again died at the end of the most recent legislative session.

Some local municipalities and counties are acting in the absence of legislative action. So far 18 have passed their own local human relations ordinances, and about a dozen are actively considering it.

The issue's arisen most recently in the Philadelphia suburbs, where Doylestown passed an ordinance in August and the Lower Merion Township commissioners adopted one earlier this month.

http://www.wfmj.com/Global/story.asp?S=13733005

[T Wolf]

1. Pennsyltucky areas will never go for this - their guns and gawd tell them it is a sin.

So there is little or no chance that Pennsylvania will have a non-discrimination law anytime this century.

It will be up to localities to join the 21st century.

[ProgressiveProfessor]

2. Not sure what guns have to do with this, what with the Pink Pistols etc

[JulieKatz]

3. Only after we sprout some brains

Not likely when the Repubs get sworn in next year. I don't know whether GLBTQ nondiscrimination laws in PA will take another 90 years, but I'm not expecting to live to see it.

Or perhaps they will pass such a law only after all of the cities do, or the feds make such a law irrelevant.

I used to be so proud to live here.