Dauphin County Commissioners Justin Douglas and George Hartwick, along with community members and officials, recognized Pride Month.
“This county wants to ensure that we are welcoming of all individuals,” said Dauphin County Commissioner George Hartwick, at a press conference on Friday.
Hartwick, along with Commissioner Justin Douglas and other local officials and community members, recognized Pride Month by sharing that the county is open to all.
Friday’s press event was likely the first time Dauphin County formally recognized Pride, according to Douglas, and officials stated that they were committed to striving for increased inclusivity.
“I take a lot of pride in us being here in this moment to celebrate this community,” Douglas said. “And I’m thankful for this important step that’s being made today.”
The commissioners shared that the county is in the process of forming a new advisory committee to come up with ideas on how the county can be more inclusive in its policies and procedures. They also shared that they will have a mixer for county employees who are members of the LGBTQ community and allies on June 27.
“This is important because this impacts our workers, this impacts our workforce, and it also impacts the fact that we are the leaders of Dauphin County, so the pace that we set should be the pace that businesses are following,” he said. “This is going to allow us to not fall behind but to carry the torch forward for what it looks like to be inclusive.”
Several community members joined the county in recognizing the month, while also sharing the challenges they’ve faced personally.
“Thanks to the commissioners of Dauphin County for being open and protective of my community,” said Stephanie Fritsch, a transgender activist and the auditor of Wiconisco Township. “Being a transgender person in Pennsylvania can be a little bit difficult. Pride is a form of resistance and empowerment.”
Others pointed out that there’s still much-needed work around protections for LGBTQ residents of the county.
Harrisburg Treasurer Dan Miller asked the county commissioners to pass an ordinance against workplace discrimination based on sexual orientation/gender identity.
“Even though attitudes have changed a lot and society has changed a lot, the law hasn’t changed; we still don’t have those protections,” he said. “Harrisburg city has protections […] but in Dauphin County somewhere else, some LGBT person could get fired for that reason and not have recourse.”
Douglas and Hartwick said that they’d be open to passing an ordinance like that, but would need to discuss what that may look like and if the county has the jurisdiction to do that.
On the state level, Rep. Dave Madsen (D-104) and Rep. Justin Fleming (D-105) shared that, over a year ago, the state House of Representatives moved forward the Fairness Act, which would prohibit discrimination in the commonwealth based on sex, sexual orientation, or gender identity or expression. The bill is currently sitting in the hands of the state Senate, which has yet to act.
“I encourage everyone to reach out to their respective senators,” Madsen said. “Let’s move this and let’s bring equality to Pennsylvania.”
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