Chambersburg Adopts LGBTQ-Inclusive Nondiscrimination Ordinance

Yet Another Small Town Pennsylvania Community to Protect LGBTQ People

CHAMBERSBURG, Pa. - The Pennsylvania Youth Congress is thrilled to share that at their September 20, 2021 meeting, Chambersburg Town Council voted to adopt an LGBTQ-inclusive nondiscrimination ordinance. Chambersburg becomes at least the 70th municipality in Pennsylvania to enact local protections for LGBTQ people in employment, housing, and public accommodations. Chambersburg follows the recent enactment of protections in other small Pennsylvania towns in rural areas including Huntingdon, Gettysburg, Shippensburg, and Bloomsburg.

Chambersburg is the county seat of Franklin County in south central Pennsylvania. The borough is historically an important crossroad between North and South, East and West, and was a stop on the Underground Railroad. Chambersburg is located approximately 50 miles southwest of Harrisburg and less than 15 miles north of the Maryland border. Hosting almost 22,000 residents, Chambersburg is among Pennsylvania's largest boroughs.

The vote was 7-3 at their hybrid meeting conducted in-person and on Zoom. Council President Alice Elia, Council Vice-President Michael Herbert, and Council members Barbara Beattie, Kathy Leedy, Heath Talhelm, Dennis Schmaltz, and Sharon Bigler all voted in favor. Council members Bill Everly, Allen Coffman, and John Huber voted against. Council member Michael Herbert made the motion, seconded by Council Member Heath Talhelm. Council members Leedy, Herbert, and Talhelm served on an exploratory committee to workshop the ordinance over several months. Both Republicans and Democrats serve on the Borough Council. Mayor Walter Bietsch is expected to sign the ordinance into effect.

Chambersburg residents and civic leaders reached out to the Pennsylvania Youth Congress in early 2021 to propose working together on the ordinance. PYC worked with community stakeholders and others to advocate together for Chambersburg Town Council to adopt a local nondiscrimination ordinance. PYC's Executive Director Preston Heldibridle and Special Policy Advisor Jason Goodman gave their formal presentation to Chambersburg Borough Council during their meeting in July of 2021, and regularly attended their borough council meetings throughout the exploratory process.

At tonight's meeting, public comment on the ordinance was extensive over nearly four hours. Chambersburg resident Bob Dixon said, "If we respect and love everyone, then I think we owe it to ourselves and our children to make a clear stance that we will not accept discrimination."

Fellow resident Beth Schupp-George mentioned, "Pennsylvania is the only state in the Northeast that doesn't have a state-wide nondiscrimination law…neighboring towns have already done this."

Melissa Mattson, Chambersburg resident and parent, told Borough Council, "I am in support of this ordinance because discrimination does happen. When my son was born seven years ago, we had trouble finding a daycare center who would take him because he had two moms. It was an issue for a lot of daycare centers around here… this will give me peace of mind that I have someplace to go, if need be."

Preston Heldibridle, Executive Director of the Pennsylvania Youth Congress, said "Once again, small town communities in our commonwealth are stepping up to meet the needs of their residents. We are very proud of Chambersburg Town Council for acting to protect LGBTQ individuals in their community from discrimination and have appreciated the opportunity to provide guidance on this undertaking throughout the exploratory process. It is beyond time for the General Assembly to follow suit and provide these basic, essential protections for LGBTQ Pennsylvanians."

While the Keystone State remains the only state in the Northeast without statewide LGBTQ nondiscrimination protections, Pennsylvania continues to have the most local LGBTQ-inclusive nondiscrimination ordinances of any state in the nation.

The Bostock decision by the US Supreme Court in June 2020 was a landmark decision that is expected to read sexual orientation and gender identity into additional nondiscrimination laws. However, at this time, the decision only impacts Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 regarding federal employment protections. The ordinance in Chambersburg will grant immediate and explicit protections to LGBTQ individuals not only in employment, but for housing and public accommodations as well.

The Pennsylvania Youth Congress is currently leading the coordinated statewide effort to advance LGBTQ nondiscrimination legislation in the General Assembly. The public support campaign run through the Pennsylvania Youth Congress is called Pennsylvania Values, and has garnered significant statewide support from businesses, chambers of commerce, colleges and universities, community organizations, and faith leaders. Chambersburg stakeholders including Wellspan Health and Wilson College are among its supporters. Nondiscrimination legislation has been introduced this session in both the state House and Senate in the forms of HB 300, SB 313, and SB 570.

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The Pennsylvania Youth Congress advances freedom and justice for young LGBTQ Pennsylvanians through advocating for responsible public policy. As a youth-led organization, PYC represents citizens working toward safer schools and thriving communities across the commonwealth. PYC is Pennsylvania's only statewide LGBTQ advocacy organization based in Harrisburg.

payouthcongress.org