PA Fairness Act reintroduced by LGBTQ+ Equality Caucus
Legislation to prohibit discrimination on sexual orientation, gender identity
Rep. Malcolm Kenyatta, Rep. Jessica Benham, LGBTQ Equality Caucus June 3, 2025 | 10:10 AM
HARRISBURG, June 3 – As Pride Month begins, state lawmakers in the Pennsylvania LGBTQ+ Equality Caucus on Monday announced the reintroduction of the Fairness Act at a state Capitol news conference.
“Discrimination is something many LGBTQ+ Pennsylvanians still experience on a regular basis, even in places with municipal anti-discrimination ordinances,” said LGBTQ+ Equality Caucus chair state Rep. Jessica Benham, D-Allegheny. “In a world where LGBTQ+ individuals are facing higher rates of suicide and violence against them, lawmakers like us need to do more to protect them through bills like the Fairness Act.”
“It’s incredibly sad that ‘liberty and justice for all’ is not true under our current laws,” said state Rep. Malcolm Kenyatta, D-Phila. “There are hundreds of bills across the country targeting LGBTQ+ Americans, who frankly just want to be left alone and live their lives in peace. We can help make that a reality by passing H.B. 300 and guaranteeing them the same basic protections from discrimination that every other Pennsylvanian already has.”
The PA Fairness Act (H.B. 300) would amend the Pennsylvania Human Relations Act to include “sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression” to the current list of prohibited types of discrimination. The Pennsylvania Human Relations Act governs the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission, which investigates and judges complaints of discrimination in housing, employment, and public services. The commission has the power to charge fines and refer cases to court.
A previous version of the bill had passed the state House 102-98 in the 2023-24 Legislative Session and was referred to the Senate State Government Committee but was never brought up for a committee vote.
In addition to Benham and Kenyatta, Monday’s speakers included Speaker of the House Joanna McClinton, D-Phila./Delaware; House Majority Appropriations Committee Chair Jordan Harris, D-Phila; House Majority Health Committee Chair Dan Frankel, D-Allegheny; Senate Minority Urban Affairs and Housing Committee Chair Nikil Saval, D-Phila.; Executive Director for the Governor's Advisory Commission on LGBTQ Affairs Ashleigh Strange; and PA Youth Congress Board Chair Jason Landau Goodman.
The full news conference may be viewed here.
Photos are available here.