Sen. Farnese Urges Quick Action on House’s Anti-Discrimination Bill
House Bill 300 would add protection of LGBT community against discriminatory practices

Philadelphia, October 13, 2009 — The United States House of Representatives Thursday, passed a federal hate crimes bill that expands protections to people who are victimized because of their sexual orientation. Its passage was a victory for those who had fought for legislation recognizing violence against Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual or Transgender people as hate crimes, ever since the 1998 killing of gay college student, Matthew Shepard.

A similar bill, Sen. Farnese notes, has wallowed in Pennsylvania’s House of Representatives since March 2009.

House Bill 300 would amend Pennsylvania’s Human Relations Act. The law currently bans discrimination in housing, employment, and other areas against people because of their race, color, religion, age, familial status, national origin, disability or support animal needed because of deafness or blindness.

With bill passage, anyone, no matter their sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, would be afforded those same protections against discrimination in Pennsylvania.
In March, Sen. Farnese urged his colleagues in the House to approve HB300.

“The potential for discrimination is all too real,” he pointed out. “All citizens in this state should have an equal opportunity to work and earn a living without regard to their sexual orientation. This underscores the need for legislation such as House Bill 300.”

House Bill 300 continues to sit in the House Appropriations Committee.

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