Doylestown set to outlaw discrimination against gays

Doylestown Borough tonight could become the 17th municipality or county government in Pennsylvania to outlaw discrimination based on sexual preference or gender identity.

The borough council is scheduled to vote on an ordinance that would protect gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender (LGBT) people from being discriminated against for housing, employment and public accommodations. The ordinance would also create a local Human Relations Commission to enforce the law and educate residents and business owners about discrimination issues.

Twenty-one states, including New Jersey, New York and Delaware already include LGBT people in their nondiscrimination laws. Pennsylvania legislators have been unwilling to bring up such a measure for a vote, prompting local governments to enact laws of their own.