Lancaster, Easton move on DP policies
The mayor of Lancaster announced this week that he was instituting a policy to grant domestic-partner benefits to the same-sex partners of city employees.
During a Tuesday night City Council meeting, Mayor Rick Gray said he was putting in place the administrative action — which does not require the approval of council — because it was “the right and fair thing to do.”
The policy would extend to nonunionized city employees and Public Works and service workers who belong to the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees union. The extension of the policy to firefighters and police officers would require council action.
The change goes into effect immediately, making Lancaster the fourth municipality in the state to offer domestic-partner benefits.
Lawmakers in Easton also met Tuesday night to iron out details of a proposed domestic-partner bill.
The council’s administration committee made a series of minor changes to the bill, which Adrian Shanker, vice president of the Pennsylvania Diversity Network, said were not substantial.
All of the council members and the mayor attended the meeting, and all promised to support the bill, which could come up for a vote May 25.
Forum on LGBT black violence
Philadelphia Black Gay Pride and The Colours Organization will host a forum later this month to explore issues of violence in the LGBT people of color community.
The town-hall discussion will be held from 6-8 p.m. April 25 at Colours, 112 N. Broad St., in the first-floor conference room.
The event will feature an interactive conversation that will allow community members to address instances of violence within and toward this population and work cooperatively to stem the tide of violence.
For more information, visit www.phillyblackpride.org or www.coloursorganization.org.
Police group to hold open meeting
The Police Advisory Commission, the civilian-oversight panel for the Philadelphia Police Department, will host a community meeting at 6 p.m. April 18 at the Community College of Philadelphia’s Center for Business and Industry, 18th and Callowhill streets, in Conference Room C3-5.
The meeting is one in a series held within local communities in which city residents are encouraged to attend and discuss any issues they’ve faced with police.
The commission will address organizational business until about 6:45 p.m., at which time the floor will be opened to the public.
Upcoming community meetings will be held May 16 and June 20 with locations to be announced.
For more information, visit www.phila.gov/pac/.
— Jen Colletta