Here in Pennsylvania, we believe that everyone deserves the same opportunities to work, live, and thrive in their community. When LGBT Pennsylvanians are protected from discrimination and treated just like everyone else, the entire commonwealth wins.

This effort is coordinating community-based organizing to urge the General Assembly to enact comprehensive LGBT-inclusive nondiscrimination protections. Legislation on this issue would update the Pennsylvania Human Relations Act of 1955 to add sexual orientation and gender identity or expression, to be included along with the 11 existing protected classes.

There are more than half a million LGBT Pennsylvanians who each deserve to be treated with dignity and respect in their lives. The Pennsylvania Values campaign brings together Pennsylvanians of diverse backgrounds and political perspectives to advocate for a statewide nondiscrimination law that protects LGBT people.

The Pennsylvania Values campaign has been created by the Pennsylvania Youth Congress. Since its inception in 2019, Pennsylvania Values has become the largest-ever statewide effort supporting LGBT nondiscrimination protections in state history.

Advocates for LGBT nondiscrimination protections in Pennsylvania use various names for legislation that would add sexual orientation and gender identity or expression as protected classes under state law. Dozens of bills have been introduced on this issue since 1976. As part of a nonprofit organization, Pennsylvania Values does not align with any elected official, promote a given political party, or amplify partisan messaging on the branding of a given bill. Pennsylvania Values explicitly refers to LGBT-inclusive nondiscrimination legislation as “LGBT-inclusive nondiscrimination legislation.” Pennsylvania Values is centered on education and coalition building for inclusion.

This movement is bringing partners together throughout the commonwealth to ensure comprehensive LGBT-inclusive nondiscrimination protections become law. Nonprofit and advocacy organizations that work on the front lines of making Pennsylvania a better place to live and work are proud to join our campaign to ensure basic protections for our LGBT neighbors, family, and friends.