Why PA HB 300 MUST remain transgender inclusive.
Now that the Allegheny County Ordinance struggle, it is time to turn our attention back to PA HB 300. Unfortunately (or fortunately, depending upon your perspective) the PA House isn’t ready, as they are still too embroiled with working on a budget (or not working on a budget, depending upon your perspective). So, now is the time to sort out our next steps.
States, such as Massachusetts have been way ahead in protections for sexual orientation, but have lagged behind in terms of transgender protections. Easily transfolk could become the next major target for accepted discrimination. I’m sure some are saying, that they already are [no need to become] socially accepted targets for discrimination. The question is this: in Pennsylvania, are we going to look for protections in employment, housing and public accommodations that cover all sexual minorities or not?
The linked article describes the dialogue surrounding personal privacy and modesty in public locker rooms. The good news is that the opponents to discrimination protection seem to have dropped their scare tactic re: men’s ability to use this ordinance as a way to attack women. But this is still a prevailing myth:
“The real issue is in locker rooms you undress, you dress, you shower,” said Durkin. “My children, my two girls, would most likely be exposed to an anatomic male, and that’s something I think they have a right to be protected against.”
We need to use the time now to be prepared and get back to the hard work of getting PA HB 300 passed.
Bay Windows – New England’s largest GLBT newspaper.
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