Chambersburg on Monday became the first municipal authority in the Commonwealth to revoke an anti-discrimination law designed to protect the LGBTQ community, as well as protect against gender, ethnic discrimination.
A Republican majority on the Chambersburg Borough Council on Monday revoked the town's LGBTQ inclusive law.Chambersburg on Monday became the first municipal authority in the commonwealth to repeal protections for residents against discrimination based on their sexual orientation, ethnicity or gender identity.
In explaining his opposition to the ordinance, council member Larry Hensley shared his experience of running a ranch in Louisiana and having a cross burned in his front yard after hiring a Black couple. “It feels like we are going backwards,” said Kierstin Stockum, a borough resident. “This is just protecting somebody. Why would we not want that as a community? A repeal says we not welcoming to anybody whether LGBTQ or not. It’s saying we discriminate here. Why would we want to send that message?”
Leedy echoed the arguments made by some borough residents that the repeal would be bad for the business sector. Alice Elia, a Democrat and former borough president, made a last-ditch effort to table the motion to allow council to further explore ways of addressing concerns about the ordinance, namely provisions for mediation and creation a special commission tasked with hearing complaints.
“I don’t hate LGBTQ people,” he said. “I don’t hate anybody but I don’t like the ordinance. It has no teeth. I ‘m tired of all this. This is the second time. You all get a chance to vote in November and you can decide how to change council then.”