Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro (D) on Tuesday signed the Creating a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair (CROWN) Act, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of hair.

“Real freedom means being respected for who you are — no matter what you look like, where you come from, who you love, or who you pray to,” Shapiro said in a statement on the matter.

“For too long, many Pennsylvanians have faced discrimination simply for hairstyles that reflect their identity and culture — that ends today,” he added.

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In 2022 alone, the Keystone State received 916 complaints related to racial discrimination involving hair texture and protective hairstyles, according to Shapiro’s office.

Extreme instances have resulted in people being forced to cut their hair to retain employment or enrollment at local schools.

“Too many black children have been suspended and missed what should be valuable instruction time because their hair, worn in ways that are aligned with their racial identity, have been deemed a violation of school rules. Too many black adults have been passed over for promotions, had offers of employment rescinded, and even been fired for showing up authentically,” Adjoa B. Asamoah, an advocate for the CROWN Act, said in a press release from Shapiro’s office.

Some people have turned to chemical treatments to maintain a more slick and Eurocentric hairstyle in hopes of professional gains. 

“And with an undeniable correlation between the use of chemical relaxers and the increased likelihood of developing uterine fibroids and cancer — the cost of conformity is simply too expensive,” Asamoah said.

The CROWN Act will block employers from discriminating against employees or applicants on the basis of hairstyles such as locs, braids, twists, coils, Bantu knots, Afros and extensions, which are worn for various reasons including religious purposes and styling preferences.

“The CROWN Act protects dignity and affirms the freedom to honor our cultural roots. I’m incredibly proud to see Pennsylvania adopt this essential anti-discrimination legislation,” said state Sen. Vincent Hughes (D). 

“Discrimination is unacceptable. This legislation makes clear that in Pennsylvania, we celebrate people for who they are and protect their right to fully embrace their identity.”

Concerns about natural hairstyle protections have been voiced by lawmakers nationwide. In 2019, a version of the CROWN Act passed in the House but was subsequently blocked in the Senate in 2022.

Earlier this year, Sens. Cory Booker (D-N.J.) and Susan Collins (R-Maine) reintroduced the bill seeking to provide “explicit protection against racial discrimination based on natural and protective hairstyles associated with African heritage.”

“We cannot control the way our hair grows out of our head any more than we can control the color of our skin,” co-sponsor Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-N.J.) said in a statement on the legislation. “Discrimination against hair texture is racial discrimination, plain and simple. Nobody deserves to be denied the opportunity to thrive in the workplace, excel in school, or contribute their talents to the world simply because of their hair.”

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