Protecting LGBTQ+ People from discrimination

Pennsylvania is the only state in the Northeast that does not have specific protections for LGBTQ+ people written into legislative law. The Pennsylvania Fairness Act would ensure that all Pennsylvania residents are protected from discrimination in employment, housing, and public accommodation based sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression. Organizers have been working diligently to get this legislation passed and we need you to do your part.

Email your elected official

LOCAL And COunty Nondiscrimination Ordinances

Out of 2,560 municipalities in the Commonwealth, only 75 have local ordinances that protect LGBTQ+ residents from discrimination. This leaves almost 50% of the State’s LGBTQ+ population unprotected from discrimination in housing and public accommodations. Keystone Equality’s leadership has been instrumental in getting these types of ordinances passed and we want to work with you in your community. Contact us to learn more!

Banning Conversion Therapy

Also called “reparative therapy,” conversion therapy is a harmful practice that targets LGBTQ youth and seeks to change their sexual or gender identities. Organizations like the American Psychological Association have condemned this practice yet in many parts of the Commonwealth it is openly practiced by therapists and religious organizations. Keystone Equality not only condemns this practice but is working to get it banned by state and local geovernments. You can do your part by contacting your elected officials too.

Protecting LGBTQ+ Youth In Our Schools

Whether it is forced “outing” of queer youth, access to the restroom or locker room that aligns with their gender identity or the ability to gain access to the benefits of school sports or other activities, LGBTQ+ youth have become an undeserving target in the culture wars. At Keystone Equality we stand with these amazing young people and are actively working to push back against harmful policies and legislation at the state and local level. Join us by emailing your elected officials!

Legal name change reform

Pennsylvania’s process for changing a legal name is antiquated, expensive, and dangerous. Keystone Equality supports the efforts of legislators in the PA House and Senate that would significantly reform and modernize the name change process. Specifically, we support efforts to create an administrative process that would allow people to change their name without having to appear in open court, to remove the dangerous and antiquated requirement to publicize a name change in two newspapers, and to reduce the cost burden of legal name changes along with other reforms. You can support this effort emailing your elected officials and asking them to support legal name change reform!

Updating Hate Crimes Laws & Eliminating the LGBTQ Panic Defense

Sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression are currently not protected classes with regard to Pennsylvania’s Hate Crimes law (The Ethnic Intimidations Act). Additionally, there is no law against using what is commonly called the “LGBTQ+ Panic Defense” which means that someone who is facing trial for assaulting someone can say that their “fear” of someone’s LGBTQ+ status (or perception of that status) is a legitimate excuse for their physical assault. Keystone Equality stand for our LGBTQ+ Community members by advocating for the closure of these loopholes in the law. Help us to make a difference by emailing your elected officials today!

Ensuring Access To Medical Care For Trans Youth

There is active legislation (HB 138) in the PA House of Representatives targeting healthcare providers that is solely designed to make access to gender-affirming care more difficult. Studies by the Trevor project indicate that youth who have access to gender-affirming healthcare have 60% lower odds of depression and 73% lower odds of suicidality after 12 months. At Keystone Equality, we believe that decisions regarding the healthcare for transgender youth should be made by their parents and their healthcare provider and we oppose all efforts to make access to this care - for youth and adults - more difficult. Join us by emailing your elected officials!

Fighting back against censorship

Keystone Equality opposes the efforts of legislators and advocacy groups that are designed to remove educational materials and books from our schools, public libraries and other institutions. These efforts are intended to erase the existence of LGBTQ+ people and other marginalized groups from the public record. We support the right of parents to be actively involved in their children’s education and what materials/classes they can attend, but that right does not extend to other people’s kids. Join us by emailing your elected officials!

Ensuring Access To Medical Care For Trans Youth

There is active legislation (HB 138) in the PA House of Representatives targeting healthcare providers that is solely designed to make access to gender-affirming care more difficult. Stidies by the Trevor project indicate that youth who have access to gender-affirming healthcare have 60% lower odds of depression and 73% lower odds of suicidality after 12 months. At Keystone Equality, we believe that decisions regarding the healthcare for transgedner youth should be made by their parents and their healthcare provider and we oppose all efforts to make access to this care - for youth and adults - more difficult. Join us by emailing your elected officials!

Fighting for the rights of LGBTQ+ Couples and Parents

We support the right of LGBTQ+ parents to seek and retain custody of their children, including foster and adopted children without bias based on the LGBTQ+ status. Additionally, we continue to advocate so that the rights of legally married same sex/gender couples are recognized as the same rights that opposite sex/gender couples. Contact your legislators to let them know that you support these efforts to!

Opposing incrEased Criminal Penalties for people who are hiv-positive

Keystone Equality opposes any and all efforts to criminalize people’s HIV status. This includesefforts aimed at increasing criminal penalties for those convicted or charged with assault if they are HIV-positive. Join us by emailing your elected officials!