Friday, July 14, 2006

Easton, Pennsylvania passes gender identity ordinance

I previously blogged about the ordinance being considered in Easton. Wednesday evening, the city passed a Human Relations Ordinance that includes a prohibition of discrimination on the basis of gender identity and sexual orientation.

The ordinance passed 5-0. Easton, with a population of 25,000, becomes the 11th city and county in PA to prohibit discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity, joining Allentown, Erie County, Harrisburg, Lansdowne, New Hope, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Scranton, Swarthmore and York.

I note that, as mentioned in a previous blog, a federal district court in Pennsylvania found that Title VII covers transgender employees. Mitchell v. Axcan Scandipharm, Inc., Slip Copy, 2006 WL 456173 W.D.Pa.,2006. Feb 17, 2006.