[GLCC NewsBlast: 168] Allegheny County Passes Inclusive Anti-Discrimination Bill

The Allegheny County Council voted Wednesday evening, July 1st 2009,
to approve the Allegheny County Human Relations Ordinance, legislation
that will ban discrimination in housing, employment and public
accommodations on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity
or expression with limited exceptions. Although similar protections
have been in place in the City of Pittsburgh for over 20 years, this
week's ordinance marks the first time these protections will be
extended to County borders. This is a historic step forward and true
cause for celebration.

The bill, which passed by an 8-6 vote, established a county-wide Human
Relations Commission that will be responsible for investigating claims
of discrimination. The ordinance is set to become law once it is
signed by County Executive Dan Onorato on Thursday, June 9, 2009.

The Coalition for the Allegheny County Human Relations Ordinance,
along with many other individuals, worked with County Executive Dan
Onorato and County Council this week to modify the bill after a
previous amendment was found to include an unreasonably broad loophole
per religious exemptions. The final amended language, while explicitly
stating an exemption by religious organizations, sidesteps the issue
of organizations that receive tax-payer funds. This language allows
for further dialogue on this particular issue.

LGBT rights organizations from across the state also praised the
Ordinance for its inclusive protection of transgender individuals.
The Coalition for the Allegheny County Human Relations Ordinance
called the new legislation "the highest standard of trans-inclusive
language in the Commonwealth." The county is now the fifteenth
municipality in the state to grant protection to LGBT individuals.

For the past year, our community has worked with determination and
persistence to bring this day about. Throughout this process, we have
formed important relationships, and the unique collaboration between
LGBT organizations, allies, grassroots activists, and public officials
will continue to serve as a model of effective partnership. We thank
all those involved, particularly Council Members Burn, DeFazio,
Cleary, Fitzgerald, Macey, Martoni, Robinson and, of course, the prime
sponsor Amanda Green. We also thank County Executive Dan Onorato and
his staff for lobbying in support of the Ordinance in recent weeks.

While the individuals and groups involved in this effort are numerous,
several groups and grassroots outlets offered frequent input into the
process in recent days: Speakers at the Council meeting, the
Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission, the Pittsburgh Human
Relations Commission, ACLU-PA, Delta Foundation of Pittsburgh,
Equality Advocates PA, GLCC Pittsburgh, GLEC Group, New Voices
Pittsburgh-Women of Color for Reproductive Justice, One Church
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania NOW, PERSAD Center, Steel-City Stonewall
Democrats, Trans Working Group, Women's Law Project, Women & Girl's
Foundation of PA. Bloggers also were a vital part of getting
information to the community and include pghlesbian.com,
pghcomet.blogspot.com, thomascwaters.com amongst others.

We will continue to work for equality at the local, state and national
levels. But, before we get back to work, let's take this moment to
celebrate and affirm that together, we can move equality forward for
our entire community-LGBT and straight.

Thank you for your support!
Coalition for the Allegheny County Human Relations Ordinance

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