Borough Moves Forward On Anti-Discrimination Ordinance

The Newtown Borough Council on Tuesday unanimously voted to advertise an ordinance that would expand protections against discrimination through the creation of a local Human Relations Commission.

Depending on how long the process takes, Newtown Borough could become the 23rd municipality in the state to pass an ordinance that protects all people, despite their sexual orientation or gender identity, from discrimination in employment, housing and public accommodations.

Current state law does not include protections against discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity, Newtown Borough solicitor Paul Cohen explained. At the direction of council, Cohen used an ordinance passed by Doylestown Borough last year as a guide when drafting Newtown Borough’s ordinance.

The ordinance, which will be posted on the borough website as well as available at Borough Hall, would set up a Human Relations Commission to conduct mediation in circumstances of discrimination.

In the event of a discrimination complaint, the Human Relations Commission would be billed with the task of bringing the parties together and attempting to resolve the concern. If no resolution is reached, then the commission would adopt findings of fact.

Cohen explained that before a discrimination case can proceed in state or federal court, it legally must go through an administrative process. Local Human Relations Commission findings would satisfy that administrative requirement, Cohen said.

Other Pennsylvania municipalities in addition to Doylestown have passed similar ordinances, including Allegheny County, Easton, Harrisburg, Haverford, New Hope, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Scranton, Swarthmore Borough, Bethlehem and more.

Borough Council President Julia Woldorf said she has spoken with representatives from both Doylestown and New Hope boroughs. “From what I understand, they haven’t had any cases come before them,” Woldorf said, adding New Hope has had a similar anti-discrimination ordinance in place since 2002.

Several residents and advocates turned out in support of the anti-discrimination ordinance.

Marlene Pray of the Bucks Equality Coalition encouraged Borough Council to advertise and ultimately pass the ordinance. “How is that we can have a community where it is legal to fire someone just because of who they love?,” Pray said.

Pray, a Doylestown resident who worked with her local Borough Council to pass the anti-discrimination ordinance, said so far “our experience has been nothing but positive.”

Pray said while Doylestown hasn’t had any cases come forward, “what we have experienced is a greater sense of pride in our community.”

Resident Josh Hornstein said he was also in support. “This is the right thing to do. It says a lot about the borough.”

Hornstein noted that local merchants have recently been focused on marketing the town and bringing in more customers. “Nothing markets the borough better than showing off that we are a open community that doesn’t discriminate,” he said.