These past several years have been a nonstop spray of hate from the dyspeptic sewer system that is the modern republican party. One community that has been one of the top targets of that hate has been the queer community.
It’s been hard to find wins in the age of Trump, state after state has jumped into attacking queer folks with gusto and sometimes being a part of the queer community feels like you’re trying to dodge traffic on the highway while wearing ankle weights.
When I first saw a headline from a couple weeks back about PA passing some laws about the LGBTQ+ community out of their judiciary committee I clicked on the article figuring I was about to be depressed yet again, but I couldn’t be more wrong.
From the article:
House Bill 300 (Sponsored by Rep. Malcolm Kenyatta) — Also known as the Fairness Act, this legislation would update Pennsylvania’s anti-discrimination law to explicitly prohibit discrimination based on sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression in areas such as housing, education and public accommodations
Great news right? But I promised a monsoon, not a sprinkle. Reading further:
House Bill 632 (Sponsored by Rep. Ben Waxman) — This bill would modernize Pennsylvania law related to HIV by ensuring criminal penalties reflect current scientific understanding of HIV transmission, prevention and treatment, and by eliminating provisions that unfairly criminalize people solely because of their HIV status
And
House Bill 1311 (Sponsored by Rep. Ben Sanchez) — This legislation would prohibit the use of the so-called “LGBTQ+ panic” defense in Pennsylvania courts, preventing perpetrators of violent crimes from attempting to reduce or avoid criminal responsibility by blaming a victim’s sexual orientation or gender identity
AND
House Bill 1315
This bill would eliminate the outdated requirement that individuals publish notice of their legal name change and would automatically seal name change records for people seeking the change to affirm their gender identity
ANNNNNNNDDDD
House Bill 1800 (Sponsored by Kenyatta) — This legislation would repeal outdated language in Pennsylvania law that defines marriage as only between a man and a woman, aligning state statute with Constitutional protections for marriage equality established by the U.S. Supreme Court
AAAAAYYYUUUUNNNNNDDDDDD!
House Bill 1905 (Sponsored by Frankel) — This legislation would strengthen Pennsylvania’s ethnic intimidation statutes and expand civil penalties against individuals who target others based on characteristics such as race, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability or national origin
And and and!
House Resolution 393 (Sponsored by Waxman) — This resolution would designate February 28, 2026, as “HIV is Not a Crime Awareness Day” in Pennsylvania to help raise awareness, combat stigma surrounding HIV, and promote public health education
House Bill 1902 (Sponsored by Dan Frankel) — This bill would provide enhanced training for law enforcement to better identify, investigate, and prevent hate-based intimidation crimes, helping ensure communities are protected from acts of violence motivated by bias
Ok that last one I have my doubts about how helpful it will be but still!
These bills are currently at second consideration as of today, so please, if you live in PA, call your local state rep or state senator and express your support for these bills, getting them passed will help the LGBTQ+ community in PA immeasurably.
It’s hard to find wins these days, but yinz out in PA are giving me hope, a rare commodity these days.
P.S.
I’m fundraising for my transition care, gonna attach the GoFundMe to the end of any of my diaries for that end, please donate if possible, and share to your socials, thank you.
Love,
Alice