Lawmakers seek to ban sexual orientation discrimination
By RICHARD FELLINGER Harrisburg bureau
Updated: 03/27/2009 05:40:52 PM EDT
http://ydr.inyork.com/ci_12012720House members are sharply divided over a bill that would outlaw discrimination based on sexual orientation, and a legislative battle over the bill could come to a head soon.
Sponsored by Rep. Dan Frankel, D-Pittsburgh, the bill would add "sexual orientation, gender identity or expression" to the Pennsylvania Human Relations Act. The law currently bars discrimination based on factors such as race, color, religion, age, gender and disability.
The bill could be put to a floor vote this spring and would likely spark heated debate. When it cleared the House State Government Committee recently, it passed on a party-line vote of 12-11, backed only by Democrats.
Now, groups on both sides of the issue are lobbying in preparation for a floor fight, and lawmakers are receiving many e-mails and letters from constituents about it.
