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Senate Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
Senate of Pennsylvania
Session of 2021 - 2022
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | March 1, 2021 11:27 AM |
|---|---|
| From: | Senator Vincent J. Hughes |
| To: | All Senate members |
| Subject: | Creating a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair (CROWN) Act |
| In the near future I will re-introducing Senate Bill 964 from last session which would prohibit discrimination based on hair style and hair texture. As you may recall, in early December 2019 a video went viral of a high school student in New Jersey who had to choose between forfeiting a match or cutting his locs or locks. Seven states have banned discrimination based on hair style and texture, including New York, New Jersey and Maryland, and more than 23 states have introduced bills to ban discrimination. Additionally, a number of local governments across the country have amended their ordinances to include hair style and hair texture into the definition of race in their nondiscrimination statutes. Under my legislation, the Human Relations Act would be amended to clarify the term “race” and will also include traits historically associated with race, such as hair texture and protective hairstyles. I again will be partnering with Representatives McClinton and Lee who have introduced this legislation in the House of Representatives. Please join me in cosponsoring this legislation. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact Michael Deery in my office. |
Introduced as SB531