Mayor Jim Kenney has enacted a travel ban on non-essential, city-funded travel to North Carolina and Mississippi in the wake of anti-LGBT laws in those states.
Philadelphia will consider waiving the ban, according to the mayor’s office, when municipalities take a stand against discrimination, like Raleigh-Durham did in the case of North Carolina’s law that prohibits local LGBT-inclusive nondiscrimination ordinances.
Kenney will reconsider the full ban “if and when North Carolina and Mississippi choose to repeal their discriminatory legislation,” according to the directive issued to city employees.
Kenney joined a coalition this month called Mayors Against Discrimination, which also includes mayors from San Francisco, Seattle, New York City, Portland, Oakland, Honolulu, Santa Fe, Tampa and Washington, D.C. The mayors participated in an April 15 meeting to discuss goals.
The coalition stated its members are “joined in barring official travel to states with discriminatory laws.” It added it would work to prohibit contracting and purchasing from companies in those states.
Kenney’s office said the mayor would work with the city Office of LGBT Affairs and the Procurement Department to examine potential prohibitions. Philadelphia currently has no active contracts with North Carolina or Mississippi, according to a preliminary review of city contracting by staff.
“I’m proud to count myself among the coalition of mayors taking a stand against discriminatory policies targeting LGBT individuals and families,” Kenney said in statement. “Our city was founded on the ideals of freedom and equality, and we will continue to pursue those ideals in fighting for a fair and inclusive city and government that serves all Philadelphians.”
The North Carolina law prohibits local municipalities from enacting LGBT-inclusive nondiscrimination ordinances and prevents anyone from suing in state court for a discrimination claim. It also prohibits transgender people from using the restroom that aligns with their gender identity.
The Mississippi law allows people to use religious beliefs to fire gay or transgender people or deny them services.