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Appropriations panel advances bill extending discrimination protections to sexual orientation and gender identity on party-line vote
Summary
House Bill 2103, which would amend the Pennsylvania Human Relations Act to prohibit discrimination in housing, employment and public accommodations on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity, was approved by the House Appropriations Committee and referred to the House floor after a reported party-line split.
The House Appropriations Committee voted to advance House Bill 2103, which would amend the Pennsylvania Human Relations Act to add prohibitions on discrimination in housing, employment and public accommodations based on sexual orientation and gender identity or expression.
During the committee meeting, the Executive Director summarized the bill: "House Bill 2103 amends the Pennsylvania Human Relations act to include a prohibition on discriminatory housing practices on account of race, color, national origin or ancestry and prohibits discrimination in employment, housing and public accommodations because of a person's actual or perceived sexual orientation or gender, gender identity or expression."
When the chair called for discussion on HB2103, a committee member stated, "On House Bill 2103, all Republicans will be voting in the negative." Chairman Harris then stated, "All the Democrats will vote in the affirmative on House Bill 2103." The chair announced that HB2103 "will pass the committee, be referred to the floor of the House." The transcript records the party-line statements but does not contain an individual roll-call tally for the vote.
The committee did not take amendments or record extended debate on the bill during this meeting. The next formal step for HB2103 is consideration by the full House.
