Pennsylvania’s House of Representatives passed House Bill 21-03 Tuesday by a narrow margin of 101 to 100, following amendments that expanded its anti-discrimination language. The bill seeks to modify the Pennsylvania Human Relations Act to ensure that “whites only” communities, like those seen elsewhere in the country, cannot establish themselves in the state.Concerns about such communities arose after reports of a property in northeast Arkansas called “Return to the Land,” which spans 160 acres and is home to about three dozen residents, with more applicants seeking to join.According to its website, the organization is actively exploring the possibility of bringing similar communities to Pennsylvania, specifically in the Appalachian region. During the debate, Republican representatives argued that the amendments were a Democratic effort to address transgender participation in girls’ sports. “Identity, appearance, mannerisms, expression or other gender-related characteristics regardless of the individual’s designated, by God, although that’s not in the definition, perceived sex. Madam Speaker, those are not narrow legal definitions. They are broad, subjective and open-ended,” State Rep. Charity Grimm Krupa said.”The notion that because these words aren’t expressly mentioned in the bill text and thus we can wash our hands of any corresponding concern is either naive or deceptive or both. This bill before us is in fact a vote for or against Pennsylvania’s girl athletes,” State Rep. Joseph D’Orsie said. The bill now moves to the Republican-controlled Senate for further consideration.
Pennsylvania’s House of Representatives passed House Bill 21-03 Tuesday by a narrow margin of 101 to 100, following amendments that expanded its anti-discrimination language.
The bill seeks to modify the Pennsylvania Human Relations Act to ensure that “whites only” communities, like those seen elsewhere in the country, cannot establish themselves in the state.
Concerns about such communities arose after reports of a property in northeast Arkansas called “Return to the Land,” which spans 160 acres and is home to about three dozen residents, with more applicants seeking to join.
According to its website, the organization is actively exploring the possibility of bringing similar communities to Pennsylvania, specifically in the Appalachian region.
During the debate, Republican representatives argued that the amendments were a Democratic effort to address transgender participation in girls’ sports.
“Identity, appearance, mannerisms, expression or other gender-related characteristics regardless of the individual’s designated, by God, although that’s not in the definition, perceived sex. Madam Speaker, those are not narrow legal definitions. They are broad, subjective and open-ended,” State Rep. Charity Grimm Krupa said.
“The notion that because these words aren’t expressly mentioned in the bill text and thus we can wash our hands of any corresponding concern is either naive or deceptive or both. This bill before us is in fact a vote for or against Pennsylvania’s girl athletes,” State Rep. Joseph D’Orsie said.
The bill now moves to the Republican-controlled Senate for further consideration.