LGBTQ+ Rights

Josh will continue to advocate for LGBTQ+ Pennsylvanians and fight for equality as Governor — just like he has for his entire career.
Josh has stood with LGBTQ+ communities throughout his career — he defended LGBTQ+ rights from the Trump Administration’s attacks as Attorney General, helped the first LGBTQ+ couples in Pennsylvania marry as a Montgomery County Commissioner, and pushed to expand protections for our Commonwealth’s LGBTQ+ communities as a State Representative.
Pennsylvania is the only state in the Northeast without comprehensive nondiscrimination protections for sexual orientation and/or gender identity. This means that LGBTQ+ individuals can be discriminated against across the Commonwealth in many sectors, including employment, housing, credit issuance, education, and various public accommodations.
As Governor, Josh will put his full capital behind the effort to finally ban discrimination against LGBTQ+ individuals in Pennsylvania so that LGBTQ+ community can work, attend school, and seek housing under the same rights as everyone else in the Commonwealth. He’ll expand our hate crime laws to cover our LGBTQ+ communities, invest in mental health resources to support LGBTQ+ youth, and finally ban conversion therapy for minors. For too long, members of the LGBTQ+ community in Pennsylvania — and all across America — have not been afforded the protections they deserve. Josh will work tirelessly to ensure and expand the rights of the Commonwealth’s LGBTQ+ residents.
Philadelphia Gay News: Shapiro pledges to pass nondiscrimination as governor
11/10/21
Attorney General Josh Shapiro announced his candidacy for governor last month, hoping to fill the seat in Harrisburg occupied by Governor Tom Wolf since 2015.
NorthcentralPA.com: AG Shapiro: federal proposal discriminatory against LGBTQ individuals
12/24/19
Pennsylvania’s Attorney General Josh Shapiro announced he is co-leading a coalition of Attorneys General to condemn a federal proposal that would eliminate explicit anti-discrimination language used in regulations governing federal grants that guarantees equal access to programs across the country.
Philadelphia Gay News: PA’s attorney general joins amicus brief in trans discrimination case
12/5/19
Pennsylvania’s Attorney General Josh Shapiro and 22 other attorneys general filed an amicus brief in support of a former Gloucester High School student in the case of Gavin Grimm vs. Gloucester County School Board.