Credit: PaHouse.com
State Representative John Galloway (D-Bucks) said in a press release Tuesday that he is supporting a statewide non- discrimination bill.
Politics PA reported Galloway was withdrawing his support of the bill on Sunday, however, after meeting with State Rep. Brian Sims (D-Phila.), a civil rights attorney and the first out gay person elected to the Pennsylvania legislature, addressing some concerns he had Galloway is back on board in support of HB 300.
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The bill has bipartisan support and “would amend Pennsylvania’s Human Relations Act to ban discrimination on the basis of a person’s sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression. Similar legislation has been introduced in the state.”
“I firmly believe in equality for all,” Galloway said. “Representative Sims has provided a strong and compelling argument that this bill provides protections which we all take for granted. Our neighbors in New Jersey and Delaware already have the legal protections which this bill would provide. Representative Sims assured me that while the bill provides the equality I believe in, it does not infringe on the rights of others. My job is to ask questions and represent everyone. And Representative Sims is not just an excellent legislator but a great resource.”
“Representative Galloway and I have been speaking about House Bill 300 and the issue of LGBT civil rights for several weeks now, and I’ve listened to and understood his concerns about the legislation,” Sims said. “After addressing Representative Galloway’s concerns and assuring him that this bill respects and protects the rights of all Pennsylvanians, I’m very pleased that he has put his name back on the bill. Representative Galloway is a good and decent public servant, who is dedicated to the ideals of equality and fairness for all of Pennsylvania’s citizens. I’ve never questioned his support for equality and I’m proud to serve alongside him in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives.
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Similar legislation has been introduced in the state Senate as S.B. 300. Twenty-one states have laws that ban discrimination on the basis of a person’s sexual orientation; 17 of those states also ban discrimination on the basis of gender identity, a press release says.
