Pgh Lesbian Correspondents

Breaking news from Northeastern Pennsylvania –

Pittston has become the 31st municipality in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to adopt a non-discrimination ordinance. The small city of about 8,000 is the first in Luzerne County and second in northeastern Pennsylvania to adopt this type of local law. Over two dozen community supporters of the ordinance attended the final vote this evening. Advocates present included members of the Rainbow Alliance board, including Board President Beth Hartman, and PSEC’s Executive Director Jason Landau Goodman.

Without an inclusive statewide non-discrimination law, Pennsylvanians who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender (LGBT), or those perceived as LGBT, can be legally discriminated against. Countless LGBT Pennsylvanians have been fired, evicted from their home, or denied a public accommodation on this basis.

Pittston’s State Representative, Rep. Mike Carroll, is a co-sponsor of HB300 – the state’s leading non-discrimination legislation.

Currently 32% of Pennsylvania’s population (4.1 million residents) lives in the 31 municipalities with inclusive nondiscrimination laws.

Less than a third of us live in parts of PA where are jobs are protected. That’s awful. But kudos to the Pittston community for standing up to do their part to protect everyone – all of their neighbors. Change is making its way across Pennsylvania.

A poll conducted earlier this week showed more than 70% of Pennsylvania residents support non-discrimination ordinances. State Representative Dan Frankel will re-introduce HB300 which provides non-discrimination protections based on sexual orientation and gender identity – with 80 cosponsors including Republicans.

Congrats to the folks in Pittston who worked so hard to make this happen.