In the early morning of June 12th, a gunman opened fire at a popular LGBT nightclub in Orlando, killing 49, wounding 53, and leaving a horrific mark on our nation. If 49 LGBT people were shot down and murdered in Pennsylvania – the State of Pennsylvania would NOT consider it a hate crime. Pennsylvania is the ONLY state in the Northeast that doesn’t address LGBT PEOPLE, LGBT PEOPLE, in its hate crime laws.
After a 2014 Philadelphia gay BASHING crime, a house bill was introduced which was aimed at restructuring Pennsylvania’s hate crime laws. The bill received a vote in committee but was never called for a vote on the House floor.
The fate of the bill lies with Rep. Ron Marsico, the Republican chairman of the House Judiciary
Committee who has not allowed it to move. When asked by the press, Marsico does not comment on the bill.
A republican spokesman said, “obviously we don’t believe there should be any discrimination, and these bills are working through the committee process.” The bill has been in Marsico’s hands for nearly 17 months. 17 months and the bill hasn’t moved.
Since 2001, a LGBT equality bill, in one form or another, has been introduced in every session of the PA legislature.. Two state representatives are using a “last resort” measure to move forward a bill that offers anti-discrimination protections for LGBT individuals in Pennsylvania. The Pennsylvania Fairness Act would add people’s sexual orientation and gender identity and expression to the state’s anti-discrimination law. It has been stalled in committee for the past 10 months.
There are currently no state laws protecting LGBT individuals from discriminatory practices in housing, health care, employment, education, adoption, foster care, insurance, credit or even jury selection. Last week there was movement in state senate for a bill covering housing and employment. It passed a vote in committee and may be brought to the floor of the senate. Wednesday there was a rally in Harrisburg for support of the bill.
Earlier this week, a municipal ordinance was passed in the borough of Dickson City to protect the LGBT community from discrimination. The city council voted for the ordinance unanimously. Not one person attending the meeting spoke out against the ordinance. Dickson City is a major hub for business, including dozens of retailers, chain stores, and restaurants. Now, all of its employees will be protected and LGBT people can receive services without fear of being denied.
Bloomsburg failed to act on its equality ordinance by just one vote. One vote. Other local communities including, Sunbury, Shamokin, Selinsgrove, have not taken any action on the issue.
The LGBT community is part of your community …we are your friends, family, co-workers, neighbors. We are Americans who deserve equal rights and opportunity.
We have been beaten for holding hands in Philadelphia. We have been murdered for gathering in Orlando. We have been refused service from local businesses. We have been fired for just being who we are. We have been attacked and punished for doing what so many take for granted each day.
For far too long the state of Pennsylvania has had a bull’s eye on our backs, on my back, and I’m tired of it.
After the tragic events in Orlando, I am more compelled than ever to stand up for LGBT rights and I hope that you are too.
What can you do?
1) Support the Pennsylvania Fairness Act. Contact Rep. Keller, Rep. Culver, Rep. Masser and Sen. Gordner and ask, no demand, that they take action on the Pennsylvania Fairness Act. Tell them to ask Rep. Marsico to put the bill to a vote, Tell them that in the year 2016 every Pennsylvanian deserves equal rights.
2) Register to vote and take your vote seriously. Be informed and encourage others around you to vote.
3) Support organizations like Equality PA and Equality Non-Discrimination (END).
4) Share your story. Your voice is powerful when you choose to use it. It is our stories that will enlighten and change the world.
Most of all, we need to be the voice of those 49 people. We must celebrate the music of their lives by speaking out. We NEED more than prayer.