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At a Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission town hall in York, Stephanie Fritch, an elected transgender woman from rural Pennsylvania, described sustained harassment, limited local resources and a stalled discrimination complaint that she said left her without closure.

\"World people don't have their voices heard ever. They live outside the safety bubble every day. There's no safe place. There's no resources. They live in poverty and face risk discrimination daily,\" Fritch said, identifying herself as an out transgender elected official who represents a small rural township.

Fritch told the meeting she filed a discrimination complaint with the commission more than six years ago that was dropped after about three years, and she said she felt the outcome denied her closure. She also described difficulty accessing law enforcement and federal assistance when she faced threats, and said rural trans residents often lack transportation, health care access and basic economic stability.

She urged stronger state-level protections and called for civil remedies in addition to criminal enforcement. \"I think hate crimes at any level should be also adjudicated on the civil level,\" she said, and encouraged constituents to run for local office and to write representatives as a strategy for protection and political change.

Why this matters: Fritch''s testimony illustrates barriers in rural communities: lack of local resources, limited trust in police and federal partners, difficulties sustaining complaints and acute economic vulnerability. Panelists at the meeting suggested concrete local steps''collective letter-writing, petitions and outreach to school boards and elected officials''in addition to pressing for state statutory change.

The meeting audience also raised state bills (HB 300 and SB 150) and asked how residents can support passage of legislation; organizers said the immediate step is to sign the York petition, contact local representatives and attend public hearings on school or council items.

Fritch said she will remain publicly engaged and urged others to write their representatives and organize locally: \"If you get enough votes, you will become an elected person. And that's what I did in a small town.\"","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","No Hate in Our State Town Hall - York","oneSentenceSummary","Stephanie Fritch, an out transgender elected official from rural Pennsylvania, told the York town hall she and other rural trans residents face daily threats, discrimination and limited access to services. She said a discrimination complaint she filed years ago was dropped after three years and urged state-level legislation and local organizing.","taxTitle","York City, York County, Pennsylvania","taxId",4891,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6455937,"Faith leaders, advocates and students outline local strategies to protect LGBTQ residents and students",4324,1969000,6293000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5711761-7875ea5861bbef3690ed43847e0c56c4&start=1969&end=6293","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5711761-7875ea5861bbef3690ed43847e0c56c4/thumbnail_1969000.jpg","/articles/6455937/York-City/York-County/Pennsylvania/Faith-leaders-advocates-and-students-outline-local-strategies-to-protect-LGBTQ-residents-and-students","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6455937-5386742b09a7179556288d3f4a55d0b9/orig.mp4?Expires=1770645731&Signature=BfUiWD4FOkz7GJu~e28iOO3ovtx7fMpw4CuYGRIblhvHRfiOZlmrqi9zEEKH-6XkRONRmIP7gaQQcyHjUQ5MsVTASA-yoWLJE3IMFKhv5ZObp5fVp3WW8z5QjFvbLw-OiQISfdIlSvjcIZYHKhOOTiASy7f0HcRUtajDugyaqOYiD9OHaxf0eMKw3Ma55fpiZf6wBdgFuJiF8odxIjtnp5HgYr0919u7MGn0IhLiaWji3D~B7jiDRoRb0Q1FMxjbC2R0FKk0h7R4DzuDCnYH9QdbUbpGN5-e0HSrF37XM~-RqDT4KoAypNjXC1iMeoHUh9lPct8C9S3WPkv-n0ZnkA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","York City

Faith leaders, community advocates and state officials used a Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission town hall in York to set out local strategies to protect LGBTQ residents and students, calling for visible allyship, faith-based welcome, and discreet networks to get resources to vulnerable young people in hostile school districts.

\"If you follow me on Facebook, you know I always end my post by saying another world is possible. It's gonna happen because of what people in this room do,\" said Reverend Jesse North, pastor of Wrightsville Presbyterian Church, urging congregations to publicly declare welcome and to reach into school and civic spaces.

Reverend Dee Marie Tribble, a pastor and family therapist, described faith-based reconciliation and urged church leaders not to stay silent. \"What I say to people who believe that faith and LGBTQIA cannot coexist is you are interpreting your sacred texts based on your own biases,\" she said. Tribble said faith communities should prioritize \"love\" and support for families navigating identity.

Panelists and audience members also described tactical approaches for schools: creating safe, low-profile points of contact inside schools, backing student-led GSAs with outside safe spaces, and cultivating allies who can use their positional privilege to open doors for young people. State commission staff and local groups said training for school staff, police liaisons and boards is part of the mix.

Several speakers recommended both public affirmations and covert organizing. \"We have to become experts in how we communicate subversely,\" Toomey said, arguing that some outreach and networks must operate quietly where school boards have been infiltrated.

Why this matters: Speakers emphasized that a mix of visible allyship (publicly welcoming congregations, training and petitions) and low-profile support (covert networks, safe handoffs to community centers) helps protect students who cannot safely be visible in their school districts.

Faith and community organizations at the meeting offered to host trainings and to act as liaisons; organizers said interfaith networks are being developed to provide on-site support for families at tense school-board meetings and rallies.","At the York town hall, clergy, advocates and state officials urged faith communities and allies to act publicly and covertly: open welcoming congregations, allyship commitments, school-level support networks and subversive outreach to bypass hostile school boards.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":91,"_47":92,"_49":93,"_51":94,"_53":95,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":96,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":97,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6455942,"State civil-rights agency says reporting tools exist but many LGBTQ victims don''t use them",0,803000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5711761-7875ea5861bbef3690ed43847e0c56c4&start=803&end=803","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5711761-7875ea5861bbef3690ed43847e0c56c4/thumbnail_803000.jpg","/articles/6455942/York-City/York-County/Pennsylvania/State-civil-rights-agency-says-reporting-tools-exist-but-many-LGBTQ-victims-dont-use-them","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6455942-33ccb22134cb6fdaad38f647a6f97751/orig.mp4?Expires=1770645731&Signature=eGAWyiCggWhBf-ZQ5s~Dh840X-tCK-dCN-CBRKFEPWQfQ6TEaQAJSn-L4gGbKkdX~ntln-XCiaXnBwJcj0q~8Gej8rlEdiMJF9xPn8Q45zeJUttWjXQnc-y~tLsNlyyvR3FNpGw1cjkJyBtB9OXLBONC7bVCxNH2gIE8kRnPtPldi4Ejlmu7pxjh8T46gaAyMtSkjRzTlliiqrZCu6ht8aiPDF9zqhVTNDA6OiqZkJz2ZSB1rIh6B7aPoprxYsv~9gm8lCVKtN6KHuff9-OfM55N0DTfh8ywzlRFDT81ZaMD-N0fB5hifSimZ3VXLcMAnuek6NWd9wcMaUShOhTN5w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","York City

At a Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission town hall in York, state and local civil-rights officials outlined protections and services available to people who experience discrimination in areas such as education, housing, employment and public accommodations, while acknowledging that many victims do not come forward.

\"The power is in the complaint,\" Cheryl Mech, director of the (named in the meeting) veil rights division at the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission, said during closing remarks, noting the PHRC has neutral investigators, mediation and training services at no charge and that the commission travels across Pennsylvania''s 67 counties.

Panelists and staff described several barriers to reporting: fear of retaliation, distrust of government agencies, lack of awareness that protections exist locally and the practical difficulty of accessing services from rural areas. Claire Toomey, York City Human Relations Commission''s executive director, said her office has not had discrimination complaints from LGBTQ residents during her tenure and that the absence likely reflects lack of trust or awareness rather than lack of incidents.

The PHRC staff also described legal and procedural tools available to minors: equitable tolling allows a complainant who was a minor at the time of an alleged violation to file a charge when they turn 18. The commission said the Pennsylvania Human Relations Act provides enforcement authority in five sectors (education, housing, employment, public commercial property and public accommodation).

Why this matters: Officials said better awareness and community outreach are necessary for enforcement to work. Several speakers urged residents to document incidents, use PHRC complaint forms (no fee), and, when possible, seek local allies such as school staff, faith leaders or community organizations to help make a report or request assistance.

The PHRC representative closed by emphasizing that filing a complaint is free and that the agency will investigate probable cause if warranted. \"We have neutral investigators that will look into it, determine probable if there's probable cause and go through the process,\" Cheryl Mech said. \"The power is in the complaint.\"","Representatives from the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission and York City Human Relations Commission described free complaint processes and training resources at a York town hall but said fear and lack of awareness keep many LGBTQ people from filing claims.",{"_33":99,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":100,"_41":101,"_43":102,"_45":103,"_47":104,"_49":105,"_51":106,"_53":107,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":108,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":109,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6455946,"York advocates press city council for local hate-crime ordinance after state law excludes LGBTQ people",5533,1730000,7263000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5711761-7875ea5861bbef3690ed43847e0c56c4&start=1730&end=7263","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5711761-7875ea5861bbef3690ed43847e0c56c4/thumbnail_1730000.jpg","/articles/6455946/York-City/York-County/Pennsylvania/York-advocates-press-city-council-for-local-hate-crime-ordinance-after-state-law-excludes-LGBTQ-people","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6455946-de64b23de75c49bb125cd65720351d9b/orig.mp4?Expires=1770645731&Signature=Eul7Wu2ELLIjrWWSUxgxXFZP90OWzJ1C03sVuIchDHxZ7frfuxRjx4U89xn4JGbrrenRlJ6t8Q7BSenNxY9jIUo29K6SJ-niV0~Le7MvKBKZJs4NxEbu52JBV0LqdKUVr8SfFtyJBJlrd6gOcrHAwYNAt7sb653m6PDtfQyu6Y523ErFxoZFYGW0ExWnUkfmgS-c5UkNKa3GO6PZPiMYJZ4dXLai3Z9N4NxJ0O0XywlsS5MHujwcbQbgCYdYYObOVnsXVut~f0rzBGyB4tIlR5EeS0uE8Fu0~wE-rc2moEvrfTyEJmYOInjOp6DgE2Wh4R0Ta6wzdJO8ev9dWP4ZOA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","York City

At a public town hall hosted by the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission and York City''s Human Relations Commission, community leaders and residents urged York City Council to adopt a local hate-crime ordinance after panelists said Pennsylvania''s state law does not cover sexual orientation or gender identity. The petition to begin that local process was on display at the meeting and organizers asked attendees to sign.

Panelists said the gap in state law leaves LGBTQ people without the same statutory protections afforded to victims targeted for race, color, national origin or religion.

\"In the state of Pennsylvania, the hate crime legislation falls under intimidation, and it covers race, it covers color, country of origin, and religion,\" said Claire Toomey, executive director of the York City Human Relations Commission, describing the legal gap. \"It doesn't cover LGBTQ. It doesn't cover disability. It doesn't cover women.\"

Toomey and other speakers argued that a local ordinance, even if limited to misdemeanor penalties under state limits, would send a political and prosecutorial message that the city recognizes bias-motivated attacks and supports victims.

\"Philadelphia has a local hate-crime ordinance, but because it is not recognized at the state level it can only be prosecuted as a misdemeanor,\" Toomey said. She said the local misdemeanor example carries up to 90 days in jail and fines up to $2,000, and that York''s effort is intended to build momentum for statewide change as well as to signal the city''s stance to the district attorney and federal partners.

Organizers at the meeting said they will present the petition and draft ordinance language to the York City Council president and to council committees. Attendees who left contact information were told they would receive email alerts and a public notice when the item goes to a council meeting so supporters can attend the vote.

Why this matters: Panelists said the absence of statewide protections for sexual orientation and gender identity can discourage victims from reporting crimes and hamper prosecutors'' ability to treat bias as an aggravating factor in prosecutions. A local ordinance, they say, can provide symbolic and procedural support while advocates continue to press for change in Harrisburg.

Organizers asked people to sign the petition after the meeting and to watch for a public notice about the council hearing. \"Make sure everybody signs the petition when you leave,\" Toomey said. \"We're going to present that and really press it.\"","At a Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission town hall in York City, panelists and residents urged the city to adopt a local hate-crime ordinance after Pennsylvania''s state statute does not cover sexual orientation or gender identity. Organizers are collecting signatures for a petition and plan to present proposed language to city council.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Rural transgender elected official recounts harassment, calls for stronger state protections and enforcement

Faith leaders, advocates and students outline local strategies to protect LGBTQ residents and students

State civil-rights agency says reporting tools exist but many LGBTQ victims don''t use them

York advocates press city council for local hate-crime ordinance after state law excludes LGBTQ people