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NEWS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 16, 2004
CONTACT: Diane Gramley 1.814.271.9078 or 1.814.437.5355
Albert Moore: 1.610.966.0774
VICTORY FOR ALLENTOWN BUSINESSES AND FAMILIES
(Allentown) -- Today a statewide pro-family organization praised the decision of Allentown Judge Alan Black to throw out the Allentown Human Relations Ordinance (HRC) which added "sexual orientation" and "gender identity" as protected classes in April 2002. The American Family Association of Pennsylvania (AFA of PA) worked with citizens in their thwarted attempt to force the issue on the November 2002 ballot. "The citizens of Allentown have fought long and hard to have this homosexual special rights ordinance revoked -- June 14 was their day for victory," Diane Gramley, president of the AFA of PA said today.
Concerned citizens mounted a petition drive in the summer of 2002 to force a referendum question on the ballot. Signers of the petition faced intimidation tactics by homosexual activists and as a result 637 signed affidavits asking that their names be removed from the petition. Even though no procedures addressed the removal of names from a petition, the City Council directed the City Clerk to remove the names of those who requested it. This action invalidated the efforts by the petition circulators which would have given all the voters of Allentown an opportunity to vote on the addition of 'sexual orientation' and 'gender identity' to Allentown's Human Relations Ordinance.
Businesses such as St Luke's Hospital-Allentown Campus and the Carbon County Prison have been directly affected by the inclusion of 'gender identity' in Allentown's HRC Ordinance. Last year the hospital was sued by Dr. Gary Greenberg who legally changed his name, began hormone treatments, and began coming to work dressed as a woman. The Carbon County Prison was affected by the HRC ordinance because Allentown-based Teamsters Union local 773 prison guard Charles Tertel legally changed his name and began coming to work dressed as a woman.
"Businesses in Allentown or contracting with Allentown-based businesses should not have to worry about being forced to allow men dressed as women on the job. Monday's decision will be a giant step forward for all businesses in Allentown. The AFA of PA is also concerned about discrimination, but to give special rights to a group of people simply because of the sexual practices in which they engage or confusion about their sexuality is wrong. The majority of Pennsylvanians agree that special rights should not be extended to anyone based on their sexual preferences," Gramley continued.
The local Boy Scouts can also breathe a sign of relief! In February 2004 Stephen Glassman, Chairman of the PA Human Relations Commission, agreed with the assertion made by the AFA of PA that such ordinances would penalize the Boy Scouts because of their policy of not permitting open homosexuals in leadership positions. The Allentown Boy Scouts will be permitted to continue using public accomodations such as city parks since the HRC Ordinance has been disgarded.
"Flag Day seemed like an appropriate day for the citizens of Allentown to win such a great victory for equality in their city. Our sincere hope is that the other municipalities which have made these changes to their HRC Ordinance will re-evaluate their decision," concluded Gramley.
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