LEGISLATIVE POSITIONS
Keystone Equality carefully reviews legislation that could have an impact on the lives of LGBTQ+ Pennsylvanians. While there are some legislative bills that could harm our Community, there are many more that would have a positive impact. We ask you to join us in reviewing this legislation and then encourage you to contact your state representatives to take an active position on these bills as appropriate.
Pennsylvania Legislation We Support
Pennsylvania Fairness Act (HB 300/SB150) - Would ensure that all Pennsylvania residents are protected from discrimination in employment, housing, and public accommodation based sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression.
Legal Name Change Reform (SB 523/524/526/528/530 and HB 609/610/638) - Would modernize and reform the legal name change process to include the elimination of the publication requirement and introduce a lower cost, administrative process as well as other reforms.
LGBTQ Hate Crimes Amendment (SB 63) - If enacted, this legislation would add actual or perceived LGBTQ status along with other characteristics/identities to the Commonwealth’s hate crimes statute.
Data for LGBTQ+ Lives (SB 326) - If enacted, this legislation would require the Commonwealth to add lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer identifiers on all State forms, documents and applications.
Protection LGBTQ People From Discrimination in Credit (SB 474/HB 933) - If passed, this bill would explicitly ban discrimination in the credit industry so that LGBTQ people have a remedy if they experience discrimination when purchasing a home, car, etc.
Act to Protect LGBTQ Students From Discrimination in Private Schools (SB 554) - If passed, this bill would make it illegal for any private school that receives state funding to discriminate against LGBTQ students with regard to clubs/activities.
An Act to Ban Conversion Therapy (SB 575) - Conversion therapy (often called reparative therapy) is a harmful practice whereby LGBTQ people are subjected to mental and physical punishment designed to make someone “straight.” It has been proven to cause significant harm to people. If passed, this legislation would ban the practice in the State.
Elimination of LGBTQ Panic Defense (HB 637) - If passed, this bill would make it illegal for anyone to use the fear of someone’s LGBTQ identity as a justification for assault or murder.
Rights and Protections for All Students (HB 1999) - Would require public schools to implement policies to include disciplinary consequences for bullying against a student based on the student's actual or perceived sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression. Furthermore, public school entities would be required to establish publicly available guidelines for student and family support in the case of a transgender student’s gender transition.
Diversity Inclusive Curriculum Pilot Program (HB 1998) - Would require the State Department of Education to establish a model Diversity Inclusive Curriculum Pilot Program that would provide instruction to students on the political, economic and social contributions of individuals of the LGBTQ+ community.
Nondiscrimination Awareness And Prevention Policy(HB 1997) - Would amend the Public School Code to require publicly-funded schools to develop a nondiscrimination awareness and prevention policy. The policy much include a statement affirming that students and school employes will not be discriminated against or harassed based on their actual or perceived race, color, sex, religion, national origin, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation or disability.
Supporting Gender Diverse Students In Public Schools (HB 2024) - Would protect the rights of students to access the restroom or locker room that aligns with their consistently asserted gender identity. The bill would also protect the right of students to play on school sports teams that align with their consistently asserted gender identity.
PENNSYLVANIA LEGISLATION WE ARE AGAINST
Gender Affirmation Therapy Statute of Limitations Amendment (HB 138) - Would increase the statute of limitations for gender affirming care of any kind for up to the age of 30 in cases where a minor was provided such care. If passed, this legislation would have the effect of making the cost of liability insurance prohibitive for healthcare workers seeking to provide affirming care.
Removing Obscene Materials from School Libraries Act (HB 209) - Would require schools to remove all books and educational materials that are deemed to be “obscene” from their library collections. The bill does not define the term “obscene” nor does it provide a mechanism for determining what materials are considered obscene. It is clearly targeted at erasing LGBTQ+ representation.
So-called “Honesty in Education Act” (HB 211) - This is a new version of a bill formerly called “The Anti-Indoctrination in Education Act” and is a thinly disguised attempt to limit what and how educators can teach around topics such as the Holocaust, Slavery, the Civil Rights Movement, and LGBTQ+ issues. Additionally, the bill states that no school or teacher may be disciplined for refusing to teach about these or other topics when they disagree with approved curriculum.
So-called “Protecting Women’s Sports Act” (HB 216) - If enacted, this bill would ban any transgender student from participating in any form of school-sponsored sport activity or team that aligns with their consistently asserted gender identity from kindergarten through college. This bill would not only deny transgender youth from gaining the benefits of participating in school-sponsored sports programs but could also put cisgender girls at risk of being accused of being transgender.
So-called “Parental Rights in Education Act” (HB 319) - Designed to erase LGBTQ+ identities and having the effect of driving LGBTQ+ people into the closet, this legislation is a “Don’t Say Gay” bill. It would prevent any form of instruction about “sexual orientation” or “gender identity” through 5th grade. Additionally, the bill would require all teachers and staff to inform a child’s parents of any student’s disclosure of their LGBTQ status at any age.