LGBT rights in Pennsylvania

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== LGBT Rights in Pennsylvania ==

LGBT rights in Pennsylvania have evolved significantly over the years. Pennsylvania, known as the "Keystone State," has seen a gradual shift towards greater acceptance and legal recognition of LGBT individuals and their rights.

Legal Status

Same-Sex Sexual Activity

Same-sex sexual activity has been legal in Pennsylvania since 1980. The state repealed its sodomy laws, which had criminalized consensual same-sex relations.

Same-Sex Marriage

Same-sex marriage became legal in Pennsylvania on May 20, 2014, following the decision in the case of Whitewood v. Wolf. The ruling by Judge John E. Jones III declared the state's ban on same-sex marriage unconstitutional, making Pennsylvania the 19th state to legalize same-sex marriage.

Adoption and Parenting

Same-sex couples in Pennsylvania have the right to adopt children. The state allows both joint adoption and second-parent adoption, ensuring that LGBT individuals and couples have the same parenting rights as their heterosexual counterparts.

Anti-Discrimination Protections

Pennsylvania does not have a comprehensive statewide law that explicitly prohibits discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. However, several municipalities, including Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, and Harrisburg, have enacted local ordinances that provide such protections.

Employment

In the absence of statewide protections, LGBT individuals in Pennsylvania are protected under federal law. The Supreme Court of the United States ruling in Bostock v. Clayton County (2020) determined that discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity is a form of sex discrimination under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

Housing and Public Accommodations

Similar to employment protections, housing and public accommodation protections for LGBT individuals are provided at the local level in various municipalities. These local ordinances prohibit discrimination in housing, public accommodations, and other areas.

Hate Crimes

Pennsylvania's hate crime laws do not explicitly include protections for sexual orientation and gender identity. However, efforts have been made to amend the state's hate crime statutes to include these categories.

Conversion Therapy

Several municipalities in Pennsylvania have banned conversion therapy for minors. These bans prohibit licensed mental health professionals from engaging in practices aimed at changing an individual's sexual orientation or gender identity.

Public Opinion

Public opinion in Pennsylvania has shifted significantly in favor of LGBT rights over the past few decades. Polls indicate growing support for same-sex marriage and anti-discrimination protections among the state's residents.

Related Pages

• LGBT rights in the United States
• Same-sex marriage in the United States
• Whitewood v. Wolf
• Bostock v. Clayton County
• Civil Rights Act of 1964
• Conversion therapy