Governor Tom Wolf praised a new regulatory change formalizing nondiscrimination protection for LGBTQ people by the state’s regulatory board.
“I have been clear – hate has no place in Pennsylvania,” said Gov. Wolf. “This includes protecting the rights of individuals facing discrimination by a school, landlord, or employer based on who they love or their gender identity. Today’s approval by the commonwealth’s Independent Regulatory Review Commission is another important step to ensure all Pennsylvanians can live with dignity and freedom.”
The latest final form regulation approved provides individuals with protections from discrimination under the PA Human Relations Act and the PA Fair Education Opportunities Act. The new regulatory change is effective immediately.
The panel approved new definitions of sex, religious creed and race in Pennsylvania’s anti-discrimination regulations, with three members appointed by Democrats in favor and two Republican appointees voting no.
The Independent Regulatory Review Commission signed off on the set of definitions that concern the types of employment, housing, education and public accommodations discrimination complaints that can be brought before the state Human Relations Commission.
The regulation defines “sex” as including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, sex assigned at birth, gender identity or expression, affectional or sexual orientation, and differences in sex development.
“Race” discrimination includes ancestry, national origin, ethnic characteristics, interracial marriages and association, traits such as hairstyles that are historically associated with race, and national origin or ancestry.
