ALLENTOWN, Pa.–Allentown City Council unanimously passed a bill Wednesday night to update and expand the city’s anti-discrimination laws, repealing and replacing Chapter 27 of the city code.
The updated ordinance, sponsored by the entire council, strengthens the city’s human relations commission and broadens protections against discrimination in employment, housing, public accommodations, education and health care.
The list of protected classes now includes race, ethnicity, color, religion, citizenship status, ancestry, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, marital or familial status, age, source of income, height or weight, and status as a victim of domestic or sexual violence, among others.
“When we passed the resolution on protecting members of the LGBTQ community, members of the community came forth and suggested that we update our human relations ordinance so that it would be better reflective of 2025,” Councilmember Ce-Ce Gerlach said, “and it was suggested that we look at the county’s ordinance, which is the most comprehensive ordinance out there, as a model to follow.”
Lehigh County recently adopted its own human relations ordinance with additional protected classes. The new Allentown bill expresses the city’s intent to work “hand in hand” with the Lehigh County Human Relations Commission, particularly in cases in which the county is better positioned to address a claim or when conflicts of interest arise.
According to the bill, the ordinance is designed to work alongside county, state and federal anti-discrimination laws, but it is not intended to override them.
“It’s definitely during times like these where we need local leaders to make sure that regardless of what’s happening elsewhere, that locally, things are strong and put together and that residents can count on their local governments regardless of everything else that’s happening,” Gerlach said.
