Other HRC Developments:

HRC Thank You's

Read the Full Ordinance as a PDF

Council Votes 6-1 for ordinance 2/26/02

Council tables HRC ordinance again, but... 1/8/02

HRC has first reading by County Council on 12/18/01

HRC withdraws plan to de-fund HRC 11/27/01

Joint Council/HRC Meeting 9/28/01

HRC reaffirms recommendation to include Sexual orientation 9/10/01

HRC Agrees to Review Inclusion of Sexual Orientation Despite Pressure by County Council 8/13/01

County Council Tables Hearing of Proposed Ordinance 3/6/01

HRC Unanimously Votes to Include Sexual Orientation 1/29/01

HRC Ordinance FAQ's

How to Contact County Council

Sample Letters to Council Members

Sample Letters to send to Council Members

Please note, these are just samples. Feel free to add your own words and make changes. (Actually, it's likely to be more effective if the letter all sound different.) 

Don't know who your County Council Representative is? We have a list of contact info that may help you to do that, and don't hesitate to ask us if you're not sure! We want everyone to make their voices heard! If we work together, we can do this!

Again, it is currently 100% legal in Erie County, PA to fire someone for their sexual orientation (whether Gay, Straight or Bi) without any other reason! 

Questions about the proposed ordinance? Here are some answers.

Address letter to:

{Your Council Representative Here}
Erie County Council
Erie County Courthouse
140 W 6th St
Erie PA 16501

Suggested phrasings

I encourage you...

I hope you will...

Please support...

Please vote for...

Sample short and quick letters

Dear______:

Please vote for the inclusion of sexual orientation in the revised Human Relations Commission Ordinance.

Thank you.

Dear ________:

As your constituent, I encourage you to support sexual orientation as a protected category in the Human Relations Ordinance.

Thank you.

Sample of a longer letter

To:
{Your Council Representative Here}
Erie County Council
Erie County Courthouse
140 W 6th St
Erie PA 16501

Dear _________:
I note that a proposal to approve the Erie County Human Relations Commission Ordinance as revised was tabled by the Erie County Council on March 6, 2001. I want you to know that I support the revised ordinance which includes "sexual orientation" as a category for protection from discrimination in housing, public accommodations and employment. Such protections are necessary and just, and are good for Erie. It is not right for people to be discriminated against because of who they are. When such discrimination is sanctioned, the whole community suffers.

I believe it is your responsibility to work for just treatment for all Erie's citizens. Now you have an opportunity to do that. I urge you to bring the ordinance up for vote soon and vote in favor of it, including the "sexual orientation" category.

Please inform me of your opinion on this matter.
Sincerely,

{Put your name and address here}

Suggestion for personal experience letter

Dear ______:

I understand that some people in the community have stated that there is no need to protect people from discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation.

I want to share my own discrimination experience with you.

[tell the story briefly and clearly].

Suggestion for person with shared political affiliation

If you are in the same political party as your council representative, you may want to tell them this. Especially effective if you are a staunch supporter of that party or an activist in that party. But-MAKE ABSOLUTELY SURE YOU SHARE A PARTY AFFILIATION before declaring your common affiliation! Here's the list again:

Joy Greco- Republican

Joe Giles - Democrat

Fiore Leone - Democrat

Mark DiVecchio - Democrat

James Terrill - Republican

David Mitchell - Republican

Carol Loll - Republican

Another variation

To:
{Your Council Representative Here}
Erie County Council
Erie County Courthouse
140 W 6th St
Erie PA

I note that a proposal to approve the Erie County Human Relations Commission Ordinance as revised was tabled by the Erie County Council on March 6, 2001. I want you to know that I support the revised ordinance which includes "sexual orientation" as a category for protection from discrimination in housing, public accommodations and employment. Such protections are necessary and just, and are good for Erie. It is not right for people to be discriminated against because of who they are. When such discrimination is sanctioned, the whole community suffers.

I believe it is your responsibility to work for just treatment for all Erie's citizens. Now you have an opportunity to do that. I urge you to bring the ordinance up for vote soon and vote in favor of it, including the "sexual orientation" category.

Please inform me of your opinion on this matter.

Sincerely,

{Put your name and address here}

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