At Tuesday night’s Upper Moreland Township’s Commissioners meeting, a public comment was read that introduced a proposal for adopting an anti-discrimination ordinance that would include LGBTQ protection. As it stands at this time, the Pennsylvania Human Relations Act does not include members of the LGBTQ community as a protected class. Many municipalities across the state have taken it upon themselves to adopt these ordinances to ensure that current and potential members of their community are protected from discrimination based on their status as LGBTQ. The statement read:
As there is no state law in Pennsylvania that explicitly protects members and residents of the LGBTQ community from discrimination, we would like to urge the Upper Moreland Board of Commissioners to adopt such an ordinance as to proactively expand the protections given under the Human Relations Act to this designated group. The Pennsylvania Human Rights Commission has expanded the definition of the Act to include protection to those of the LGBTQ community. However, without a state law specifically including this group, the recommendations of the Commission are just that, the suggested interpretation of the law, but not the letter of the law itself.
- By adopting this ordinance in the township, Upper Moreland would join its surrounding townships and boroughs in proactively protecting its current and potential residents, business owners, employees, renters, and sellers/buyers in both the public and private sectors.
- Doylestown, Jenkintown, Abington, Upper and Lower Merion, Hatboro, Upper Dublin, Ambler and Cheltenham as well as many other municipalities across the state have adopted similar non-discrimination ordinances.
- Having our local government adopt a nondiscrimination ordinance is an important action toward protecting all members of our community and promoting the common good. Nondiscrimination policies are good for business and help to attract the best and brightest to our municipality. It sets an important social standard that everyone is welcome to call this community a home, and that they should have no fear of losing their home because of who they are.
- The establishment of a Human Relations Commission in Upper Moreland will lay the groundwork for the procedural process of how any potential complaints would be heard, answered through mediation and resolved, as well as establish jurisdiction over the complaint. Having these processes already in place would save the township time and money.
In addition to the initial presentation, a resident and active serviceman, also spoke in support of this measure, relaying that, with an active military base nearby, it goes a long way to reassure the safety and security of military families, who need to be mission ready at any time, when these types of protections are in place. The proposal seemed well received by the commission. On Monday, November 26th, the Finance and Administrative committee will meet to discuss the measure. This meeting is open to the public. Any support for the adoption of this ordinance would be heard at this time. Upper Moreland is a diverse and inclusive community. It’s time for our township code to reflect this.