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Senate Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
Senate of Pennsylvania
Session of 2023 - 2024
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | December 5, 2022 11:54 AM |
|---|---|
| From: | Senator Lisa M. Boscola |
| To: | All Senate members |
| Subject: | Protecting LGBTQ+ Individuals from Discrimination in the Credit Service Industry |
| In the near future, I intend to reintroduce legislation that will protect LGBTQ+ individuals from discrimination in the credit service industry. According to researchers at the Ivy College of Business at Iowa State University, national mortgage data examined from 1990 to 2015 found the approval rate for same-sex couples was 3 to 8 percent lower than heterosexual couples. Based on this data, same-sex applicants were 73 percent more likely to be denied and, if approved, paid more in interest and fees. While mortgage applicants are not required to disclose their sexual orientation, researchers suggest that perception and internal bias is just as damaging in terms of discrimination. The federal Fair Housing and Equal Credit Opportunity Acts prohibit discrimination based on a borrower’s race, gender, marital status, or religion, but neither specifically lists sexual orientation. Last session, my legislation served as companion to House legislation that aims to combat this discrimination by amending Pennsylvania’s Credit Services Act. The bill adds denying credit or increasing charges and fees based on sexual orientation, gender identity or expression as a “prohibited activity” for credit service companies. I ask that you support me in this legislation and join me in guaranteeing LGBTQ+ couples have equal access to credit and creating a fairer, more equitable Pennsylvania. This legislation was introduced as SB 663 in the 2021-22 legislative session. Co-sponsors included: COSTA, FONTANA, HUGHES, SCHWANK, BROWNE, HAYWOOD, KANE, KEARNEY, SANTARSIERO, STREET, COMITTA, COLLETT and TARTAGLIONE. |
Introduced as SB474