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Josephs shows support for anti-discrimination bill, says she will use her chairmanship to work for passage

HARRISBURG, June 13 – State Rep. Babette Josephs, D-Phila., attended a Capitol news conference today to show her support for a bill that would end discrimination in employment, housing and credit based on sexual orientation or gender identity.

"A person's sexual orientation bears no weight in his or her ability to perform job duties or to be a good neighbor," Josephs said.

The bill (H.B. 1400), which would add sexual orientation and gender identity to the categories of discrimination banned by Pennsylvania's Human Relations Act, is expected to be considered by the House State Government Committee of which Josephs is chairwoman.

Josephs said Pennsylvania is long overdue in offering the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered population the same protections already given to every other citizen, and she will work to move the bill forward.

"I intend to do everything I can to help grassroots organizers build a majority. I will hold as many hearings as are needed wherever it appears they will be helpful," she said.

"And I am calling for all who are lesbian, gay, transgendered or bisexual to contact their state elected officials. I am asking parents and siblings of gay men and lesbian women, cousins, aunts, uncles and children -- yes, gay people have children -- to work for the passage of this just and fair bill. I call on community leaders, civil rights activists, religious people, medical folks, educators and lawyers to step forward. But most importantly, I am appealing to the ordinary, hard-working women and men of Pennsylvania to make this bill a reality because I believe that, basically, Pennsylvanians are fair-minded people who understand that we need the abilities and contributions of everybody in this Commonwealth.

"There are many issues Pennsylvania needs to address, from health care and education to services for older adults and mass transit; we can't hold anyone back. We can't allow anybody to feel like second-class citizens because of discrimination. We need the best minds with excellent talents and superior commitment if we are to succeed as a state. I am 100 percent totally committed to that proposition."

Ending discrimination has been one of Josephs' primary goals as a legislator. She was instrumental in changing the Hate Crimes law to ensure that gay, lesbian and transgendered individuals were protected in that area. In addition, Josephs helped stop efforts to change the state constitution to ban same-sex marriage and other unmarried partnerships.

"What a difference a year makes. Last year at this time we were fighting to stop a constitutional amendment banning legal recognition for gay and lesbian relationships. This year, we have 70 members of the House and 22 members of the Senate who have signed on as co-sponsors of bills that promote equality and dignity for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered people. I think that shows real progress."