Pittsburgh, PA - July 21, 2009 - Steel-City Stonewall Democrats, a Pittsburgh region chapter of National Stonewall Democrats, celebrates the expansion of legal protections for GLBT people in SW Pennsylvania with the July 1, 2009, passage of the Allegheny County Human Relations Ordinance. The Steel City Stonewall Democrats were instrumental to the approval of the legislation, which will ban discrimination in housing, employment and public accommodations on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity or expression. Although similar protections have been in place in the City of Pittsburgh for over 20 years, this week's ordinance marks the first time these protections will be extended to County borders. The bill established a county-wide Human Relations Commission that will be responsible for investigating claims of discrimination.
LGBT rights organizations from across the state praised the Ordinance for its inclusive protection of transgender individuals. The Coalition for the Allegheny County Human Relations Ordinance called the new legislation "the highest standard of trans-inclusive language in the Commonwealth." The county is now the fifteenth municipality in the state to grant protection to LGBT individuals
Steel-City Stonewall board and members played a crucial role in the successful passage of this important piece of legislation. Last year, the former President of Steel City Stonewall Democrats expressed the need for this ordinance to a councilperson. During the intervening year, Steel-City kept members informed and enagaged in advocacy efforts and were able to secure key meetings with legislators to discuss the need for the bill. Finally, members and the board spread the word to the GLBT community and allies through the use of new media such as blogs, by organizing a town hall meeting and by outreach to area print media.
Allegheny County is the second largest county in Pennsylvania yet has lagged behind the city of Pittsburgh and the rest of the state for the last 20 years with no non-discrimination ordinance protecting LGBT people on a county level, even though protections are offered within city lines. While efforts are underway to pass statewide non-discrimination protections, equality sometimes moves forward in smaller steps generated at local levels. This county ordinance is true cause for celebration .
The board of Steel-City Stonewall is grateful and inspired to see the potential and crucial role a Stonewall Democrats Chapter can play in advancing pro-LGBT legislation.
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