Oral arguments will take place next week in protracted litigation involving SEPTA’s adherence to local antibias laws. The public is permitted to attend the proceeding, which will be held in City Hall.
SEPTA, the region’s public-transit agency, claims that as a state agency it doesn’t have to adhere to local antibias laws, which are LGBT-inclusive. Instead, SEPTA claims it’s required to adhere to state and federal antibias laws, which aren’t LGBT-inclusive.
The city counters that SEPTA must adhere to the city’s LGBT-inclusive antibias laws, even if SEPTA is a state agency. The city notes that state laws don’t specifically exempt state agencies from local antibias laws.
Oral arguments will be presented to the state Supreme Court. This is the second time the state Supreme Court will consider the dispute, which originated in Philadelphia Common Pleas Court in 2009.
The proceeding will take place 10 a.m. Sept. 13 in Courtroom 456 of City Hall.