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House Judiciary Committee advances Fairness Act to bar discrimination on sexual orientation and gender identity
Summary
The committee reported House Bill 300, the Fairness Act, 14–12 after sponsors said it extends existing Human Relations Act protections to sexual orientation and gender identity in employment, housing and public accommodations; opponents warned of legal and practical consequences for schools, employers and faith-based institutions.
The House Judiciary Committee voted 14–12 to report House Bill 300, known as the Fairness Act, which would amend the Pennsylvania Human Relations Act to prohibit discrimination in employment, housing and public accommodations based on a person’s actual or perceived sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression.
Representative Kenyatta, a prime sponsor, told the committee the bill “crystallizes and puts into statute a basic principle that Pennsylvania is better when it is fairer,” and said the measure provides a process through the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission for people who experience discrimination to seek redress. “This bill is not about sports… this is not in the bill,” Kenyatta said, responding to arguments he described as straw-man attacks.
Representative Benham, the other cosponsor, said he is a member of the LGBTQ community and urged colleagues to support the measure as a way to ensure Pennsylvanians “are treated with dignity and respect.” Counsel for the committee summarized the bill’s scope, noting exemptions for shared-room rentals and single-sex dormitories and a provision clarifying that nothing in the act requires an individual or religious entity to engage in conduct that constitutes a substantial burden on free exercise of religion.
Opponents argued the bill’s language is broad and could carry “serious legal, constitutional and practical consequences.” Chairman Coffman warned the measure “substantially rewrites the Human Relations Act” and raised concerns about women’s sports, privacy in restrooms and potential litigation facing religious institutions. Representative Borowitz asked for definitional clarity and repeatedly pressed sponsors for specifics during the debate.
After closing remarks from both sides, the committee proceeded to a roll-call vote and reported the bill as committed 14–12. The committee chair said the measure will move forward for further consideration under the established legislative process.
The committee made no amendments to the bill during the meeting.
