Township to adopt anti-discrimination ordinance

voted unanimously to introduce the Plymouth Township Human Relations Ordinance earlier this year. The Township Council will consider adopting the measure at Monday’s meeting.

If enacted, the ordinance would add discrimination protections for sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression in addition to existing protections for race, religious creed, ancestry, gender, national origin and handicap or disability. The ordinance also calls for the creation of a four-member Human Relations Commission comprised of Township residents and/or local business owners to hear and assist in rectifying discrimination complaints.

Councilwoman At Large Karen R. Bramblett said a resident had approached the governing body about adding anti-discrimination protection for the LGBT community. “In speaking with the people in my community it was one of the reasons I wanted to run,” Bramblett said of her run for office. “I’m straight, but not narrow.”

Monday’s adoption would make Plymouth Township the 46th municipality in Pennsylvania to finalize an anti-discrimination ordinance. Locally, Jenkintown, Abington, Ambler, East Norriton, Cheltenham, Phoenixville, Springfield, Lower Merion and Philadelphia, among others, have adopted antidiscrimination ordinances. Plymouth Township’s would be “neither broader nor narrower than anybody else,” she said.

Once the ordinance is adopted, the Council can take suggestions from the public and ultimately appoint volunteers to serve on the Human Relations Commission. Bramblett said she does not expect that the commission will hear many complaints. And, if complaints do materialize, she anticipates that by talking “neighbor to neighbor” misunderstandings can get cleared up easily.

“We want a really diverse commission,” she said. “It will be people who know each other who will be trying to come to a resolution and an understanding going forward.”

Other municipalities with similar ordinances in force have heard few, if any, discrimination complaints, according to Bramblett. Rather, adopting the ordinance sets the tone for Plymouth Township as an “open and welcoming community.”

“We have a lot of businesses in Plymouth Township,” she said. “It seemed not only important for those who live here and work here, but for those who do business here.”

If enacted, the ordinance would add discrimination protections for sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression in addition to existing protections for race, religious creed, ancestry, gender, national origin and handicap or disability.