Legislation
Ricky’s Pride is committed to building a more equitable society for people of all backgrounds. With your generous donations and support, we aim to improve conditions for the LGBTQIA+ community. The following pages elaborate on our legislative priorities:
Current Pennsylvania House & Senate Bills
Senate Bill 326 – An Act providing for the use of a lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer identifier in all Commonwealth agency or entity blanks, forms, documents and applications; and imposing penalties.
Senate Bill 370 – An Act establishing the LGBTQ Senior Community Grant Program; conferring powers and imposing duties on the Department of Aging; and making an appropriation.
Anti-LGBTQ+ Legislation
Non Discrimination Ordinances
Current discrimination legislation does not protect individuals from discrimination based on gender expression, or sexual orientation. In order to ensure that individuals in the LGBTQIA+ have an equal opportunity for jobs, housing, social programs, and safety, Ricky’s Pride is working with local, state, and federal organizations to pass both non-discrimination ordinances and laws. Given that Republicans currently have control of the Pennsylvania state Legislature, non-discrimination ordinances are the best way to protect LGBTQIA+ individuals until there is a state-wide law against discrimination.
We applaud the following Montgomery County Municipalities for establishing non-discrimination ordinances and hope that their work
inspires others to follow their lead. Sponsors and dates passed indicated in parenthesis. To view each ordinance, click on the municipality.
Montgomery County
- Abington (April 12, 2012; Lori Schreiber)
- Ambler (May 17, 2016; Jonathan Sheward)
- Bridgeport (April 24, 2018 Mark Barbee, Kyle Shenk, Tony Heyl)
- Cheltenham (February 15, 2012; Daniel Norris/David Flaks/Mikey Simmon)
- Conshohocken (April 21, 2011; Paul McConnell)
- Collegeville (July 1, 2020; Aidsand F Wright-Riggins III)
- East Norriton (July 24,2012 John Zurzola)
- Hatboro (May 21, 2018; Nancy Guenst)
- Jenkintown (November 28, 2011; Ed Foley)
- Lansdale (August 15, 2018; Leon Angelichio)
- Lower Gwynedd (May 12, 2022; Cathy Pagano, Danielle A. Duckett, Michael Twersky, Janine Martin)
- Lower Merion Township (December 8, 2010; Bruce Reed/Jason Landau-Goodman)
- Montgomery Township (Tanya Bamford)
- Narberth (June 21, 2017; Marlene Richmond)
- Norristown (July 3, 2018; Sonya Sanders)
- North Wales (October 22, 2019; James Sando)
- Plymouth Township (April 9, 2018; Marty Higgins)
- Royersford (March 28, 2017; Matt Stehman)
- Springfield Township (September 14, 2011; Jeff Harbison)
- Upper Dublin Township (September 12, 2017; Ellen Toplin)
- Upper Gwynedd Township (September 14, 2020; Liz McNamey)
- Upper Merion Township (October 18, 2012; Greg Waks)
- Upper Moreland Township (April 1, 2019; Suzan Worth LaManna)
- West Conshohocken (July 10, 2018; Greg Wesley-Lynch)
- West Norriton (August 14, 2018; Marty Miller)
- Whitemarsh Township (November 17, 2011; Amy Grossman)
- Whitpain Township (January 19, 2021; Jeff Camplongo, Joyce Keller, Kim Koch, Michelle Minnick)
Bucks County coming soon
(Source- Movement Advancement Project)
CREATING AND FUNDING COMMUNITY-BASED PROGRAMS
LGBTQIA-focused programs should be funded by local municipalities and managed by members of the LGBT+ community to ensure that each program is successful in meeting the needs of the LGBT+ community
LGBTQIA-INCLUSIVE HEALTH EDUCATION REFORM
Ensuring that LGBT+ youth receive an accurate, science-based education
ENSURING AN EQUITABLE RESPONSE TO THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC
Specifically, persons that are most often forgotten in legislation including members of the following communities: LGBTQIA+, women, people of color, those with disabilities, the deaf and hard of hearing, and the poor.
PASSING THE PA STATE EQUALITY BILL
Passing a package of three bills to realign Federal LGBT+ protections with Pennsylvania state law so that the people of Pennsylvania can no longer be discriminated against for gender identity or sexual orientation in regard to housing or public accommodations. These bills have been introduced in both the House and the Senate but have not been put to the floor for a vote. Source
REMOVING BARRIERS BETWEEN MEMBERS OF THE LGBT+ COMMUNITY AND THE GOVERNING BODY
Establishing and maintaining open lines of communication between the community and its’ governing body to ensure that legislators remain accountable to the people that they represent.
OPPOSING JUDICIAL GERRYMANDERING
Ensure that judicial gerrymandering is not passed so that judges are accountable to the law and not to voters in gerrymandered districts.
Passing Congressional H.R. 1423– the Forced Arbitration Injustice Repeal (FAIR) Act
The FAIR Act would allow individuals, workers, and small businesses to pursue legal action in the case of discrimination even if a non-disclosure agreement, or other legal agreement, had been signed
Passing H.R. 5- The Equality Act
The Equality Act would prohibit discrimination on the basis of sex, gender identity, and sexual orientation on the federal level. This bill is stalled in the Senate
ENDING CONVERSION THERAPY
Ricky’s Pride is working to end the dangerous and anti-science practice of conversion therapy throughout the nation
Ricky’s Pride PAC
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