Richard . C . Moreau
Mon, 06 Aug 2001 07:31:39 -0700
| PLGTF <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
08/04/01 01:22 PM
|
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] cc: "[EMAIL PROTECTED]" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, "[EMAIL PROTECTED]" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, Charles Morrison <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: URGENT: PA Civil Rights Initiative |
In a new round of talks, several days ago, Mark Cohen democratic caucus chair said that he would indeed introduce the PA Civil Rights Initiative bills - as proposed - presuming that a 100 people called him to demonstrate "evidence" that people cared..
First, thank you, Representative Frankel, for your time and for listening
to a brief history of the Initiative.
Since you are very recently elected, I understand how you might in
a well-intentioned moment, thought about introducing civil rights
legislation
tineiothat As I understand it, you are interested in introducing amendments to the Human
Relations Act - including however only sexual orientation -- and
excluding . It is critically important that proposed bills be
inclusive of "sexual orientation, gender identity or expression," and
inclusive of "education" as a category.
History/Herstory/Present:
The PA Civil Rights Initiative proposed twin civil rights bills were first
submitted to Senate and House members subsequent to our presentation
of the then 1996 PA Study of Discrimination and Violence. Despite
due diligence, both proposed bills, have "awaited" a prime sponsor.
Over this period, 5,000 people have signed petitions - about 75 organizations
(including the Philadelphia Bar Association) have signed clear statements of
support for the PA Civil Rights Initiative as proposed.
In a new round of talks, several days ago, Mark Cohen Caucus Chair said that
he would indeed introduce the PA Civil Rights Initiative bills. The Senate side prime
sponsor is pending. (Mark Cohen, Caucus Chair, would prefer 102 votes in advance,
however, after our 4 years of organizing around the Initiative specifically,
Mark does understand the NEED for assigned bill numbers around which to
mobilize our communities - and the necessary public debate attendant to an
inclusive and expansive effort.)
Sexual orientation, singularly, is not reflective of our consensus.
"Sexual orientation, gender identity or expression" as categories
are. As we discussed very briefly, fifteen plus years of plgtf
education reform work and the still death-dealing impact of bias and
bigotry in curricula and teaching compels us to insist that the category
"education" be added to the Human Relations Act's reach of
"employment, housing, and public accommodations."
Education as cited at Section 8, absent our proposed amendments,
is empty rhetoric, with no meaning nor specifcity relevant to either pedagogy
nor "non-discrimination in educational programs" (title 22, chapter 5)
re: race/ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, religion, age, disability,
gender identity nor expression. It is important to remember that our
communities ARE multiracial and multicultural and inclusive of
all genders.
The ACT, even with our proposed amendments and language, still must be
enhanced to serve the public interest well. It is very important that
we restore certain citizens rights that have been lost through judicial
opinions such as the right to a jury trial, and the right to attorneys'
fees to encourage pro bono representation for the greatest number of people.
In closing, please note that the Pittsburgh Human Relations Commission
amended its local ordinance to include sexual orientation and gender identity
and created a definition of "sex" that is respective of transgendered people.
The 1997-2001 current proposed bill summaries are also at
www.plgtf.org and the current Abstract of these bills IS attached
We would be very open to a conversation with you about
these critical and timely matters.
I am available at 215-772-2001 and after 10 or 11 pm at 215-482-5230.
Rita Addessa, E.D. Pennsylvania Lesbian and Gay Task Force
Thank you.