HARRISBURG, Pa. — After years of pushing for different variations of the PA Fairness Act, the latest push introduced in 2023 may be running out of time.
As the LGBTQ Equality Caucus in Harrisburg celebrated what they call the latest equality advances, as all five state regulatory boards now officially oppose and punish those engaging in conversion therapy, state legislators say there's still work to be done this legislative session.
State Representative Patty Kim (D-103) is one of those legislators.
"We have the power to do that in one fell swoop -- all 13 million people could have the same rights," Rep. Kim said.
The swoop, she says, is the PA Fairness Act. Passed last year by the state house, the bill would specifically enshrine sexual orientation and gender identity as protected classes in the Pennsylvania constitution, alongside classes including, but not limited to, race, age and religious affiliation.
"We need this anti-discrimination bill so that someone from the LGBTQ Community can't be fired, kicked out from their home," Rep. Kim said.
That need hasn't changed according to officials with the Pennsylvania Youth Congress. Confirmed again this month, after interviews in 2023, the group still gets calls from LGBTQ+ individuals facing harassment in the workplace, discrimination in housing and more.
"These issues are persistent until we get a state law passed," said Jason Landau-Goodman, Board Chair of the PA Youth Congress.
"They have to include sexual orientation for us to be truly protected without question."
Despite broad support, Rep. Kim says the bill may be dying a slow death in the state senate.
"To have that sitting and not giving folks the freedom to have those rights is maddening to me," Rep. Kim said.
If the bill is not passed by the end of the two-year legislative session, which ends November 30, the process would likely have to start all over again.
Meanwhile, the number of local municipalities with non-discrimination ordinances continues to grow. Now, 74 counties, boroughs, townships or other municipalities offer protections for the LGBTQ+ community, one more from this time last year.
However, according to Rep. Kim, that only covers 35% of Pennsylvanians.
"Good for them. I'm thankful for them. But it has to be for everybody in Pennsylvania," Rep. Kim said.
While current officials interpret Pennsylvania law as protecting the LGBTQ+ community, officials say interpretations often change. Pennsylvania remains the only state in the Northeast without explicit protections for the LGBTQ+ community.
"It sends the wrong message to Pennsylvanians whether you're gay or not gay," Rep Kim said. "We are treating certain people differently and not giving them the same rights, why would you want to come to Pennsylvania? We have a lot of work to do."