The Philadelphia Commission on Human Relations investigates complaints of discrimination in employment, public accommodations and housing. The agency is charged with enforcing the city’s Fair Practices Ordinance, which bans discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity, among a number of other factors.
According to PCHR, employment discrimination can consist of the denial of a job or a promotion, as well as less-overt measures like less-favorable employment terms or inaccessible services for someone with a disability.
Public-accommodations discrimination may occur when an individual is denied admission, or offered less-favorable service or inaccessible service to someone with a disability at a public place, including:
- Places of lodging like hotels and motels
- Restaurants and bars
- Casinos and theaters
- Retail establishments
- Colleges and universities
- Medical settings and social-service providers
- Parks and recreation settings
- Museums
Housing discrimination by housing and property-related services like banks, insurance agents and real-estate brokers is prohibited. Such an action may occur when one of those entities denies an application for tenancy or a loan, or offers less-favorable lease terms or interest rates or inaccessible property for someone with a disability.
If you feel you have suffered discrimination in one of these areas because of your LGBT identity, or one of the other classes protected under the Fair Practices Ordinance, contact PCHR to initiate a complaint.
To file online, visit http://ow.ly/l0mr305yHSp and download an intake form from the right-hand side of the page. That form can then be mailed or delivered in person to 601 Walnut St., Suite 300 South, Phila., PA 19106.
The intake form is the first step and does not constitute the filing of a discrimination complaint. PCHR staff will review the intake form and set up a meeting with the filer.
PCHR can only investigate instances of discrimination that occurred within the preceding 300 days.
For more information, call PCHR at 215-686-4670.