FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MEDIA CONTACT: Ben Turner House Democratic Communications Office Phone: 717-787-7895 Fax: 717-783-6839 E-mail: bturner@pahouse.net	State Rep. Dan Frankel D-Allegheny www.pahouse.com/Frankel
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Frankel introduces statewide anti-discrimination bill

Would protect against bias based on sexual orientation, gender identity or expression

HARRISBURG, June 13 – State Rep. Dan Frankel, D-Allegheny, today introduced a bill (H.B. 1400) that would protect people who live or work in Pennsylvania from discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity or expression in employment, housing or credit.

Pennsylvania’s Human Relations Act already bans discrimination based on race, color, religious creed, ancestry, age, sex, national origin, a non-job related handicap or disability or the use of a guide or support animal due to a person being blind, deaf or having a physical handicap.

“A majority of Americans now live in one of the 20 states that ban employment discrimination based on sexual orientation. Nearly 40 percent of Americans live in one of the 12 states that ban discrimination based on gender identity. It is time for Pennsylvanians to have those same protections,” said Frankel, chairman of the Allegheny County Democratic Delegation.

“It is the right thing to do, and for our economy, it would also be the smart thing to do. We are surrounded on three sides by states that ban anti-gay discrimination – Maryland, New Jersey and New York. These states have a competitive advantage over Pennsylvania when it comes to attracting and retaining businesses and residents.”

Frankel said the House version of the bill has 70 sponsors, an increase from 57 in the 2005-06 session. The Senate version (S.B. 761) has 22 sponsors, an increase from 19 in the last session.

“More and more people inside and outside of this building understand that being gay or transgendered has nothing to do with your ability to fix a car or computer, to show up on time and to do a good day’s work,” Frankel said. “It’s important to note that this legislation would also protect heterosexual people from being fired based on their sexual orientation or their gender identity or expression. This legislation would protect everyone.”

The most recent statewide poll on the subject, taken in 2003 by a Republican polling firm, showed 68 percent support from Pennsylvania voters for legislation like the bill introduced today. More recent national polling also indicates strong support – Gallup’s annual poll on gay issues found 89 percent support for the statement: “Homosexuals should have equal rights in terms of job opportunities.”

Pittsburgh, Erie County and Philadelphia are among the 14 Pennsylvania communities that ban anti-gay discrimination, but about three-fourths of the state’s more than 12 million residents live in communities that do not provide such protection.

Nationwide, 20 states – including neighboring Maryland, New Jersey and New York – already have laws in effect or due to take effect that ban job discrimination based on sexual orientation. Those 20 states are home to a majority of the U.S. population, according to the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force. Twelve states, including New Jersey, have laws banning job discrimination based on gender identity.

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