The City of Philadelphia on Thursday released a guide outlining local LGBT rights and resources.
The LGBTQ Protections Action Guide was released in a direct response to the rollback of rights at the federal level by the Trump administration, Office of LGBT Affairs Director Amber Hikes said in a statement.
“With the trend of discriminatory policies coming from the White House, we want to make sure the LGBT community understands what protections they have here in Philadelphia,” Hike said. “Philadelphia’s laws extensively protect people in the city from discrimination, and the Office of LGBT Affairs, alongside the Philadelphia Commission on Human Relations will continue to protect the rights and liberties of all Philadelphians.”
The guide outlines “quick facts” about both the LGBT community and its rights. Specifically, it mentions the Fair Practices Ordinance, the city’s LGBT-inclusive nondiscrimination law, a 2014 LGBT-specific hate-crime law, regulations on gender-neutral bathrooms and bathroom signage and the School District of Philadelphia’s trans-inclusive policy, among others.
Readers are encouraged to share the information and to contact their local legislators to press for statewide reforms, such as the proposed LGBT-inclusive nondiscrimination law.