Colin Harris, a South Philadelphia gay man, has filed a complaint with the Philadelphia Commission on Human Relations against Summit Children’s Program
The complaint, filed Aug. 19, alleges harassment and antigay bias at Summit, which offers pre-school and child-care services to children in Mt. Airy.
Harris’ son attends pre-school at Summit but will be leaving in September, Harris said.
Harris, 39, contends that he suffered harassment and antigay bias at a June meeting held by Summit officials. During the meeting, a woman who served as Summit’s board president at the time allegedly stated: “Homosexuality is a sin.”
The woman allegedly made the same comment in an email circulated to Summit board members, according to Harris’ complaint.
Harris said he objected to the comment, but the woman’s husband told him he could leave Summit if he didn’t like his wife’s opinions.
Another board member allegedly chastised Harris on Facebook, stating that he no longer was welcome at Summit.
Harris expressed concern to other board members, “none of whom took action to address the discriminatory behavior,” he said in his complaint.
“As a result of harassment, I am being denied public-accommodations opportunities on the basis of my sexual orientation,” he stated in his complaint. “I am detrimentally affected because of the board members’ lack of action to address the discriminatory statement and postings.”
Harris told PGN he doesn’t feel comfortable at Summit.
“[The antigay statements] made me question exactly how safe an environment Summit is,” he said. “I felt personally attacked and criticized for who I am. Since then, I’ve felt uncomfortable and unwelcome twice a day, when I drop off and pick up my son.”
Harris expressed hope that his complaint will have a positive effect on Summit.
“By filing this complaint, I’m trying to ensure an LGBT-friendly atmosphere at Summit for future parents, children and staff to enjoy,” he said.
He seeks to prevent a similar experience for other parents, he added.
“Sept. 13 will be my son’s last day [at Summit]. I want to make sure that when he and I leave Summit, another parent doesn’t have to go through what I went through.”
Summit’s board of directors issued this statement: “Summit Children’s Program is a secular program open to everyone regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity, just as it has been since opening in 1974, and we stand firmly behind our organization’s nondiscrimination policy. The board of Summit Children’s Program has not been contacted by the Philadelphia Commission on Human Relations regarding Mr. Harris’s complaint.”