Central Pa. community becomes state’s first rural area to adopt local LGBT protection ordinance
With more ordinances aimed at protecting the LGBTQ community than any other state, Huntingdon recently became the first rural area to pass legislation that prohibits discrimination against LGBTQ people.
After almost 10 years of advocating, Huntingdon resident Anthony Bullett celebrated the win when borough council voted to adopt the ordinance in a 4-3 vote at last week’s meeting. The LGBT-inclusive nondiscrimination ordinance enacts local protections for LGBT people in employment, housing and public accommodations. It joins 57 other Pennsylvania municipalities in enacting such legislation.
“It’s not just what we have done over the past few years, but even looking back 50 years ago, what my father and others tried to do in this town,” Bullett said in a statement. “That we have finally been able to get inclusive nondiscrimination protections into law is tremendous. There will not be another generation that has to live under legal discrimination, at least not in our community of Huntingdon.”
Collaborating with the Pennsylvania Youth Congress and other community members, Bullett formed Diversity Huntingdon — an initiative aimed at educating borough council members and advocating for the LGBT community.
“I am very excited beyond words,” Pat Hunter, a community member, said in a statement. “I would not have thought that 22 months ago this ordinance would have passed. We came a long way, and we turned a lot of people’s opinions in the right direction.”
Hunter, whose son is part of the LGBT community, was supportive of the ordinance after realizing there was no formal legislation to protect LGBT people in their community. As a result of this insecurity, Hunter’s son left the borough, which motivated her advocacy.
“When my son was in ninth grade, he was the one who told me there was no nondiscrimination protections for him in Huntingdon,” Hunter said. “He told me he would not stay because there would not be those protections, and he did not stay. Now, maybe it opens the door for individuals who are interested in staying to know they are welcome and protected here.”
Some — including Lt. Gov. John Fetterman — voiced support for the ordinance and its adoption on social media.
The Pennsylvania Youth Congress has been working with local leaders and other rural communities to adopt nondiscrimination ordinances. Councils in Gettysburg and Shippensburg have formally advanced discussions on introducing ordinances in 2020.
Youth Congress Executive Director Jason Landau said the ordinance was “long overdue” and that he hopes other rural areas will follow suit and pass similar legislation.
“We could not be prouder of the local leaders who advocated consistently over the years to this moment,” Landau said in a statement. “We have been honored to support them from day one in this effort and join them in directly advocating with Huntingdon Borough Council to approve this urgently-needed ordinance. It is long overdue for the state to take action.”
In Centre County, State College Borough and the State College Area School District have enacted LGBTQ non-discrimination policies.
