On September 15, 2023, the Commission submitted to Pennsylvania Senate leaders letters in support of three bills designed to better protect the rights and dignity of LGBTQ+ Pennsylvanians.
In its first letter, the Commission advocated for the passage of SB 63, which would expand Pennsylvania’s limited Hate Crimes statute to provide protections against such crimes based on, among other characteristics, an individual’s gender, gender identity, and sexual orientation.
In its second letter, the Commission lent its support for SB 326, which would establish the inclusion of a voluntary LGBTQ+ identifier on all state-sponsored forms, documents, and applications so that policymakers have significantly improved access to such data and can thus identify and address the most pressing issues facing LGBTQ+ Pennsylvanians.
In its third letter, the Commission urged the Senate to follow the House’s example by passing HB 300. This bill would prevent LGBTQ+ Pennsylvanians from being denied access to housing, employment, or public accommodations based on their sexual orientation or gender identity.