Pennsylvania CROWN Act Coalition

Far too often, people of color – and particularly Black Americans – are subjected to incidents of racial discrimination and although strides have been made to end discrimination through policy, it still exists in reality.

Speaker of the House Joanna McClinton and Representative La'Tasha D. Mayes ask for your support for the legislation we have introduced known as The Pennsylvania CROWN Act or House Bill 439, which stands for Creating a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair. This legislation would prohibit discrimination based on a person’s hair type, hair texture or hairstyle. 

The Pennsylvania CROWN Act is modeled on and inspired by the National CROWN Coalition and their ongoing efforts to pass the federal CROWN Act.

Locs, braids, twists, coils, Bantu knots, cornrows, afros and extensions are typically associated with Black Americans. Historically, these hair styles have created a point of reflection for many human resources managers, educators and coaches, who want employees, students, or participants to follow established policies and maintain a uniform “neat” appearance regardless of race, culture or ethnicity.

We can no longer stand by while Pennsylvanians are being targeted, harassed, and denied access to opportunities based on their hair type, hair texture or hairstyle. 

This is why we reintroduced House Bill 439 in 2025 and it passed out of the House of Representatives in a overwhelmingly bipartisan vote of 194-8 on March 18, 2025. Now the Senate must move this bill out of its State Government Committee and bring it to the floor for a vote this legislative session.

Join the movement to end race-based hair discrimination by signing this petition to urge Pennsylvania legislators to vote YES on the Pennsylvania CROWN Act, so that we can put an end to race-based hair discrimination.

If your institution, corporation, business, union or organization wants to publicly support and/or endorse the Pennsylvania CROWN Act, click here to join our Pennsylvania CROWN Act Coalition.

As of March 2025, 27 states and Washington D.C. have passed a version of the CROWN Act into law. Both the City of Philadelphia and the City of Pittsburgh have already passed the CROWN Act.

It’s time to PASS THE CROWN in Pennsylvania!

For more information about the Pennsylvania CROWN Act Coalition, please contact Kim Davis at kdavis@pahouse.net or call 717.783.1017.

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