Reporting Incidents
from Ann van Dye
Please do encourage Erie Gay News readers to regularly report homophobic incidents to PHRC. Please explain to them that though sexual orientation and gender identity are not currently protected classes under the PA Human Relations Act (the state's civil rights law) or under Ethnic Intimidation (the state's hate crimes law), there are strong efforts underway to amend both of those laws. Having reports on the nature and frequency of homophobic incidents is key in supporting those efforts. Tell your readers to call the PHRC's Pittsburgh Regional Office at 412/565-7560 or PHRC's Central Office at 717/783-8438.
Please also make sure that Erie Gay News readers are aware of the newly amended federal hate crimes law that includes sexual orientation and gender identity when the crime occurs on federal property or in a way that interferes with interstate commerce. I think it would be very helpful for your readers to read an article on what is included in interstate commerce as it is much broader than one might expect. Harpreet Mokha and Knight Sor in the Community Relations Service of the US Department of Justice would be good contacts for such an article. They are cc'd above and their office number is 215/597-2344.
Beyond sexual orientation/identity issues, your readers may have a need to be protected from discrimination for other reasons. Please inform them that the PA Human Relations Act addresses discrimination that occurs in employment, housing, education or public accommodations if the discrimination occurs because of the person's race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, age (over 40), gender, handicap or disability, having a GED, familial status (in housing), use of a guide animal, or retaliation. It is our job to conduct thorough and neutral investigations and, when appropriate, to remedy the harm that occurred. PHRC's website provides details about how to file complaints of discrimination - www.phrc.state.pa.us.
