This week saw another victory for LGBT nondiscrimination in Pennsylvania, as Bristol Borough becoming the 33rd municipality in the state to prohibit discrimination against the LGBT community.
Borough Council amended its current nondiscrimination ordinance to include sexual orientation and gender identity in a unanimous vote Sept. 9.
The measure was introduced by Councilman Greg Pezza.
Equality Pennsylvania executive director Ted Martin was present at the council meeting and said the complete lack of opposition was unusual, yet welcomed.
“It was standing-room only with probably 50 people present. There was no opposition, which was remarkable,” he said. “No one spoke in opposition to the ordinance and it was a heated meeting about other things. Interestingly enough there were 23 things on the agenda and this was not one of the hot buttons, so I take that as a good sign.”
Martin said LGBT residents in Bristol reached out to the agency earlier this year to enlist their support in amending the ordinance, which already protected against discrimination on the basis of race, religion, color, ancestry, national origin, age, mental and physical disabilities, familial and marital status and the use of a mechanical aid and/or support animal.
“We were approached by some folks from the community. We saw this moving forward and it prompted me to reach out to Greg and provide him with materials and advice,” Martin said. “And when it came time to get this rolling, we sent out an email to our 150 members in Bristol Borough.”
Martin, who contacts state legislators whenever an ordinance of this kind is passed, said ordinances like the one passed in Bristol could send a clear message to lawmakers that residents are ready for statewide LGBT protections.
“It alerts the community and helps educate people that these protections don’t exist statewide and it helps move statewide effort forward to give people these protections,” he said.