The Democratic candidates for Montgomery County Commissioner, Josh Shapiro and Leslie Richards, today said when elected they would pass an anti-discrimination ordinance that would provide countywide protections against discrimination in employment and housing based on sexual orientation and gender identity or expression.
Equality PA, the only organization in the Commonwealth advocating in Harrisburg and across the state exclusively for the rights of LGBT Pennsylvanians, has endorsed the two Democrats in this year’s county commissioner race.
“Once elected, Leslie and I plan to take swift action to protect all county residents from these unacceptable and discriminatory practices,” said Shapiro. “In the absence of state law, we must pass an ordinance that will bring equality to Montgomery County by making sure that all people are equality protected. It will also make the county more attractive to all people who want to live, work, and do business in our communities.”
Shapiro, who currently represents the 153rd legislative district in the Pennsylvania General Assembly, has been a lead sponsor of House Bill 300 which would add to statewide protections against discrimination in employment and housing based on sexual orientation and gender identity or expression. Pennsylvania’s Human Relations Act currently bans discrimination based on race, color, religious creed, ancestry, age, sex, national origin, a non-job related handicap or disability, or the use of a guide or support animal due to a person being blind, deaf or having a physical handicap.
Three counties in Pennsylvania have already passed similar ordinances – Philadelphia in 1982, Erie in 2002, and Allegheny in 2009. In addition, 19 Pennsylvania municipalities have also taken action to prohibit discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, gender identity or both, including Lower Merion and Springfield Townships and Conshohocken Borough in Montgomery County. Currently, 21 states and the District of Columbia ban discrimination based on sexual orientation. Twelve of those states and the District of Columbia also ban discrimination based on gender identity.
A poll conducted in February for Equality Pennsylvania by Susquehanna Polling and Research showed strong statewide support for this legislation with 69 percent of Pennsylvanians supporting passage of LGBT-inclusive non-discrimination legislation.
Leslie Richards is a Whitemarsh Township supervisor and is a senior project manager at a woman-owned civil engineering firm. Josh Shapiro is a Pennsylvania State Representative currently serving his fourth term representing Abington and Upper Dublin.
