HRC unanimously votes to include sexual orientation in local ordinance 1/29/01

ERIE, Jan. 29—The Erie County Human Relations Commission unanimously passed a resolution to include "sexual orientation" as a protected category. The vote was taken at a meeting on January 29 to discuss changing the wording of the Human Relations Commission (HRC) ordinance. About 60 to 70 people attended the meeting. Those in attendance appeared to have all been supportive of including sexual orientation protection.

It is now up to the Erie County Council to decide whether or not that category will be accepted.

Several people from various organizations spoke in favor of including sexual orientation as a protected category. Among those making statements supporting the new category were Dr. Bob Cogan, the representative for the NW PA chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union; Larry Sawdy, who presented a resolution passed by the Social Action Committee of Temple Anshe Hesed; Sr. Dorothy Stoner and Sr. Mary Louise St. John of the Benedictine Sisters; Maureen Koseff, president of the Erie/Crawford chapter of Parents Friends and Family of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG); Heather Malobisky, co-editor of Pride News; and several other members of the community, both gay and straight. There were no antigay speakers.

The HRC hears and investigates complaints in the areas of employment, housing, and public accommodations. The issue of including sexual orientation came up recently as the HRC was working on changing the wording of the ordinance establishing the HRC. In five Pennsylvania cities, the Human Relations Commission ordinance already includes sexual orientation as a protected category; these include Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Harrisburg, Lancaster, and York. The Erie County HRC is seeking to use the York ordinance as a model.

An earlier draft ordinance by Erie County Council and executive solicitors had deleted York's "sexual orientation" language.

Erie County Council must now make a decision about the rewritten ordinance.
They may:

1. Adopt the ordinance that the Erie County Human Relations has recommended, which includes "sexual orientation" protection, or

2. Make amendments or

3. Reject the ordinance entirely.

At this writing, there is no information about when County Council will be discussing or voting on the HRC ordinance. Persons wishing to be informed of the meeting where this will be scheduled should contact Michael Mahler at (814) 456-9833 or [email protected]

What can you do now?

The most important way we can help to get this legislation passed is to be at the meetings where it will be discussed and voted on. There were no antigay speakers at the HRC meeting; however, they may show up at subsequent meetings.

Also, people are strongly encouraged to write to their County Council representative at:

(Name)
Erie County Courthouse
140 W 6th St
Erie PA 16501

This need not be an intimidating action. It can be as simple as a letter or postcard stating that you would like your representative to vote for the version of the Human Relations Commission ordinance that includes sexual orientation.

And finally, it wouldn't hurt to counter any "special rights" arguments appearing in the newspaper or talk radio. (Reportedly, antigay callers have already been phoning local talk radio to criticize the HRC's vote).

For more information on any of this, contact Michael Mahler at (814) 456-9833 or [email protected] .