Philadelphia Bar Association Statement Supporting Passage of the PA Fairness Act

"Anti-discrimination legislation protecting LGBTQIA Pennsylvanians is long overdue," Chancellor Lauren P. McKenna said.

PHILADELPHIA, PA - Philadelphia Bar Association Chancellor Lauren P. McKenna released the following statement in support of the passage of House Bill 300, or the Fairness Act, which was recently reintroduced in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives. If passed, the legislation would ban discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression in the Commonwealth:

"Anti-discrimination legislation protecting LGBTQIA Pennsylvanians is long overdue. Lawmakers and gay rights advocates have been pushing for this legislation for decades; our Association has passed at least three separate resolutions in support of it, the earliest being in 1999. The Commonwealth currently has the weakest protections for LGBTQIA individuals of any state in this region.

"That is why this Pride Month we would like to see the General Assembly take action on and pass this bill, which has bipartisan support. Opinion polls show that such legislation is also overwhelmingly supported by Pennsylvania residents. All Pennsylvanians deserve equal treatment under the law. We should all be able to live our lives with the assurance that who we choose to love or how we choose to express our gender identity will not hinder our ability to get a job, seek education or obtain housing.

"It is time to bring Pennsylvania in line with the 22 other states that already have this protection written into law, and with the Supreme Court's recent ruling in Bostock v. Clayton County."

The Philadelphia Bar Association, founded in 1802, is the preeminent metropolitan association of lawyers in the United States. It is a keystone in the ongoing developments of the Philadelphia and Pennsylvania legal systems. With more than 200 years of dedicated service to stand on, the Philadelphia Bar Association is firmly rooted in the Philadelphia community as a steady and reliable bellwether. To learn more about the association, visit here.