A measure that City Council expected to introduce this week seeks to give the city’s nondiscrimination law a major facelift and set up tougher enforcement measures against those who violate the LGBT-inclusive legislation.
City Councilman-at-Large Bill Greenlee (D) planned to introduce a measure Thursday that would revise and tighten the language in the city’s Fair Practices Ordinance, which prohibits discrimination in employment, housing, public accommodations and the delivery of city services based on sexual orientation and gender identity, as well as several other characteristics.
“It’s basically updating the language, a total rewrite that keeps it consistent with federal and state regulations,” Greenlee said.
The councilman has been working with the city’s Human Relations Commission, which enforces the law, for about a year to reevaluate what changes are needed.
Commission chair Rue Landau noted the law hasn’t been vastly overhauled in about 50 years, although amendments have been added. She noted that changes have been made in a “piecemeal” fashion that has left the legislation lacking uniformity within itself and, in cases, with state and federal law.
For instance, several years ago, the federal government broadened the protections for employees under the Americans with Disabilities Act, although Philadelphia’s Fair Practices Ordinance was not updated to reflect that change. Greenlee’s measure would rectify that loophole, which Landau noted could impact the local HIV/AIDS communities.
Of particular note to the LGBT community, Landau said is the increase of the fine associated with violating the law to $2,000, the maximum allowed by state law.
“This will increase the fines and penalties that can be assessed against an entity that has violated the ordinance so it gives more teeth to the law,” she said. “Philadelphia protects members of the LGBT community based on sexual orientation and gender identity but, since no similar protections exist in state or federal law, it’s important that we have as strong a law as possible.”
Landau said the legislation would also ease the requirements to become registered life partners.
Jen Colletta can be reached at [email protected].