Governor Tom Wolf signs two executive orders protecting LGBTQ state employees and contractors from discrimination
They shield LGBTQ citizens from discrimination based on their sexual orientation, gender expression, and/or gender identity
With the recent spate of discriminatory legislation that has been passed in states such as Mississippi, North Carolina, and others, Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf signed two executive orders today to expand current anti-discrimination laws.
These laws now include protection from discrimination on the basis of sexual identity, gender identity, and gender expression. These executive orders apply to state employees and, in an unprecedented move, independent contractors who are conducting business with the commonwealth as well. Governor Wolf, a Democrat, decided to sign the executive order after similar anti-discrimination legislation stagnated in the Pennsylvania General Assembly.
Governor Wolf has been a strong critic of discriminatory bills passed in other states, and although he has not instituted a travel ban the way NY Governor Anthony Cuomo did for non-essential state travel to North Carolina, Wolf believes that signing legislation preventing discrimination is, according to his spokesman, Jeff Sheridan, “far more important.” Wolf has previously urged the Pennsylvania General Assembly to send the Pennsylvania Fairness Act, an anti-discrimination piece of legislation, to his desk, but so far, they have been reluctant to allow the bill to progress that far. Wolf’s decision to sign the executive orders may be seen as a sign of impatience with the General Assembly.
Picture courtesy of the Twitter account of Governor Wolf
A possible reason that the Pennsylvania Fairness Act is being held up is for religious reasons. Mike Folmer, the Republican Senate State Government Committee Chairman, has said that he wants to scrupulously “vet” potential bills to make sure that they are not infringing upon anyone’s freedom of religion or freedom of conscience. Folmer’s “religious liberties” defense brings up an age-old contention between Democrats and Republicans as to whether or not religious beliefs outweigh protection from discrimination.
Upon signing the executive orders, Wolf said: “With no sign that Republican leaders [will] free this bill that has broad, bi-partisan support, I am taking action to protect those that I can and send a signal to the country that Pennsylvania is open for business no matter who you are or who you love.”
These executive orders, coupled with Pennsylvania’s standing as the sixth largest state economy in America, make a strong statement that PA is positioning itself to be a powerful ally in the fight for LGBTQ equality.