Pennsylvania institutions of higher learning representing nearly 38,000 employees and more than 132,000 students have pledged their support for state nondiscrimination legislation. The Pennsylvania Fairness Act (HB 1510/SB 974) will update the state’s Human Relations Act – originally written in 1955 – to ensure that all citizens regardless of race, color, religion, ancestry, age, sex, national origin, disability, and, with the passage of the Fairness Act, sexual orientation gender identity and expression, can participate in the state’s economy.
The support from academic institutions includes: Albright College, Allegheny College, Dickinson College, Gettysburg College, Harrisburg Area Community College, Harrisburg University, Lackawanna College, Lebanon Valley College, and, Penn State University.
"Supporting the Pennsylvania Fairness Act is about ensuring that the students with whom we are working so hard to prepare for meaningful workplace experiences will not face discrimination when they enter the Pennsylvania workforce. In signing the pledge today, Penn State proudly stands with representatives of Pennsylvania employers and employees in asking the legislature to bring Pennsylvania into the 21st century with a nondiscrimination policy that provides comprehensive nondiscrimination practices. Discrimination has no place in the success of our staff, university and students."
- Eric Barron, President, Pennsylvania State University
"The Pennsylvania Fairness Act is critical for ensuring that discrimination has no place in our Commonwealth. By updating the state’s Human Relations Act, we will not only keep business in Pennsylvania but we will attract new business – and ensure that all of the bright, talented students we graduate have equal opportunities to contribute to our economy. But beyond that, conscience demands that we stand together to make sure that all persons have equal protection under Pennsylvania’s laws."
- James H. Mullen, President Allegheny College
"I see the Pennsylvania Fairness Act advancing our education and training efforts to ensure all of our 20,000 students, including our LGBT students, avoid discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity. By approving this legislation, Pennsylvania can be assured that it will be able to attract and maintain a rich and diverse employment pool of individuals."
- Dr. John 'Ski' Sygielski, President, Harrisburg Area Community College
Colleges & Universities across Pennsylvania agree: It's time to pass the Pennsylvania Fairness Act!
We commend the many Pennsylvania mayors, lawmakers, businesses, academic institutions and nonprofits who support adoption of the Pennsylvania Fairness Act, an update of the Human Relations Act originally written in 1955.The update would grant protection from discrimination in housing, employment and business services to gay and transgender people.
As the proposed law’s supporters point out, it’s not only fair and morally right, but also would be good for business in Pennsylvania. Read the Full Editorial
The Pennsylvania Fairness Act, which would protect all state residents from discrimination, remains bottled up in House and Senate committees, where it has languished for far too long… Every right-minded state resident should join him in demanding they move now to bring these long-overdue bills to the floor. There could be no better time.
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Pennsylvania businesses also support the Pa. Fairness Act because having an inclusive workplace helps attract and retain quality employees.In 15 years, more than 70 percent of the national workforce will be composed of millennials, the release notes, which means "...Pennsylvania’s policies must support the reality of the economic marketplace and be positioned as a strong economic competitor in attracting the highly skilled millennial workforce or face the likely negative economic consequences" Read the Full Editorial
It seems like a no-brainer that legislation should be passed to protect the civil rights of all the commonwealth’s citizens against discrimination.
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Business leaders and residents continue to voice their support for legislation that would ensure employment and housing protections to gay and transgender individuals.
It’s time our lawmakers do so, too.
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So, even though same sex couples can marry in the commonwealth, they have no legal recourse against discrimination on equally important matters, such as employment and housing... The Legislature should act this year to close that gap in Pennsylvania’s anti-discrimination laws.
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