Shapiro will sign House Bill 439, or The Pennsylvania CROWN Act<\/a>, at a local Black hair salon in Philadelphia alongside the state\u2019s first female and Black woman speaker of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, Rep. Joanna McClinton.<\/p>\n \u201cThe Crown Act is more than legislation; it\u2019s a long-awaited step toward honoring who we are. For many Black women and men, this legislation carries a deep emotional weight, because no one should be discriminated against for simply for how they choose to wear their hair,\u201d said Sierra Dunn<\/a>, executive director of Gov. Shapiro\u2019s Advisory Commission on African American Affairs.<\/p>\n Dunn continued, \u201cFor me, it\u2019s personal to me \u2013 from childhood memories of being teased, being judged in the workplace, to the daily decisions regarding my appearance just to feel safe or accepted. I am grateful for the leadership of Governor Shapiro, Speaker McClinton, and Rep. Mayes for advocating for future generations to grow up in a Commonwealth where all Pennsylvanians can be comfortable being who they truly are.\u201d<\/p>\n The Pennsylvania CROWN Act, which stands for Creating a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair, would prohibit discrimination based on a person\u2019s hair type, hair texture, or hairstyle in schools, workplaces, and social venues. Other states that have banned natural hair discrimination include New York, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, Tennessee, Arkansas, Nebraska, and Texas. The first state to sign a CROWN Act into law was California in 2019.<\/p>\n (Photo: Adobe Stock)<\/p>\n Shapiro will sign the bill at Island Design Natural Hair Studio and will be joined by Speaker McClinton (Pa.\u2019s 191st House District), Rep. LaTasha Mayes (Pa.\u2019s 24th House District), co-sponsors of the legislation, Lorraine Ruley, owner of Island Design Natural Hair Studio, and Dr. Adjoa Asamoah, who developed the legislative strategy for and leads the CROWN Act movement on behalf of the CROWN Coalition, which she co-created.<\/p>\n \u201cLike many Black women, I have felt pressured to wear my hair a certain way to meet someone else\u2019s expectations. It isn\u2019t fair, and it isn\u2019t right. Now, when the CROWN Act becomes law, hair discrimination will be against the law in Pennsylvania,\u201d said Speaker Joanna McClinton in a statement to theGrio. <\/p>\n \u201cThis is a victory for everyone who joined our movement for a more equitable commonwealth where everyone is respected, treated with dignity, and can be their authentic self. It is a victory for anyone who has felt out of place, unwelcome, or discriminated against because of their hairstyle or texture. Now we can wear our crowns with pride, and our children will grow up in a much better Pennsylvania.\u201d<\/p>\n![\"Black](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/70eecfb925a890e630fab0174be4d9dc.jpeg\"\/)
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