In Lancaster city, it is illegal to discriminate against people because they are gay.
That is not the case in surrounding Lancaster County or in much of Pennsylvania.
Lancaster Mayor Rick Gray said Friday he is supporting pending legislation that extends that freedom from discrimination to everyone in Pennsylvania.
"House Bill 300 does statewide what we've had here in Lancaster since 1991, which is prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation," said Gray, speaking at a press conference outside City Hall.
The event was called to publicize a public forum Monday evening to discuss the bill. That meeting will be held from 7 to 9 p.m. in Southern Market Center, 100 S. Queen St.
Participating in a panel discussion at the meeting will be Stephen A. Glassman, chairman of the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission; state Rep. Dan Frankel of Pittsburgh, who introduced the legislation; and Rep. Babette Josephs of Philadelphia, who is chairwoman of the committee which approved the bill and sent it to the full House. There also will be a business and a religious leader at the meeting to state their positions in support of the measure.
"Many people think that it is already prohibited," Gray said of the law, which exists in 16 municipalities in Pennsylvania and in 21 other states.
The city ordinance, which prohibits discrimination in housing and employment based on whether someone is gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender, is rarely used in Lancaster because there are few complaints, said Mark Stoner, of the city Human Relations Commission.
"I don't think that Lancaster city has the levels of discrimination that exist in other parts of the state," Gray said.
The mayor said Lancaster County has a long history of tolerance for others who live differently. He cited the Amish, whose religion compels their use of horses and buggies.
Everyone deserves to be shown the same level of respect and tolerance, the mayor said.