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Fwd: Pennsylvania ERIE County Won

Richard Moreau
Thu, 28 Feb 2002 05:12:48 -0800


Begin forwarded message:

From: PLGTF <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Date: Thu Feb 28, 2002 01:31:09 AM US/Eastern
To: "[EMAIL PROTECTED]" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, "[EMAIL PROTECTED]" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Cc: Robert Cogan <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, Al and Maureen Koseff <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, "David L. Martin" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, Mike Mahler <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, Mike Mahler <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Subject: Pennsylvania ERIE County Won

Heads UP:

Special Congratulations to the Erie Community and to Maureen Koseff, PFLAG and  Mike Mahler, Erie Gay News, Robert Cogan, ACLU/NW and Reid MacFarlane, as well as the community generally and religious progressives who supported this effort.  Koseff noted today that the community will issue a formal press release after the civil rights ordinance is "signed."  Please wait for a formal press release and contact the local activists who led this successful campaign to expand civil rights in Erie County.

By a 6-1 vote, Erie County has expanded its civil rights ordinance to include sexual orientation defined as "heterosexuality, homosexuality, bisexuality or any gender identity." Two caveats, it seems, were added to the text which I have not yet seen: one related to criminal sexual acts and the other specifying that the act does not require employers to provide domestic partnership benefits.  The bill is expected to be signed  within the week; if not signed and the 6 votes hold, a veto would be overriden.

This is a great jump-start for the Pennsylvania Civil Rights Initiative.  If you haven't signed on, please go to our web site at www.plgtf.org; click on the Initiative Statement of Support and return asap.

Thanks.

Rita Addessa, Executive Director

PLGTF Civil Rights Initiative
1616 Walnut Street, Room 1005
Philadelphia, PA 19103-5310
215-772-2000.  Fax 215-772-2004
1-877-PRIDE-2000 toll free in PA
[EMAIL PROTECTED] and web www.plgtf.org

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