No person whether or not within any named classifications set forth herein, shall aid, incite, compel, coerce or participate in the doing of any act declared to be an unlawful practice under this Article, or obstruct or prevent enforcement of compliance with the provisions of this Article or any rule, regulation or order of the Human Relations Commission, or attempt directly or indirectly to commit any act declared by this Article to be an unlawful practice.
[Ord. 15-1979, eff. 5-29-1979; Ord. 13-1980, eff. 8-8-1980; Am. Ord. 2-1990, eff. 4-3-1990; Ord. No. 21-2014, § 1, eff. 10-14-2014; Ord. No. 11-2019, § 1, eff. 3-15-2019; Ord. No. 27-2019, § 1, eff. 7-9-2019; Ord. No. 35-2020, § 2, eff. 10-23-2020; Ord. No. 52-2021, § 1, eff. 12-6-2021; Ord. No. 21-2024, 9-24-2024]
It shall be an unlawful employment practice, except where based upon applicable national security regulations established by the United States, the Commonwealth or any political subdivisions thereof, or except where based upon a bona fide occupational exemption certified by the Commission in accordance with Section 653.05(d):
(a)
For any employer to refuse to hire any person or otherwise to discriminate against any person with respect to hiring, tenure, compensation, promotion, discharge or any other terms, conditions or privileges directly or indirectly related to employment because of race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, place of birth, pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions and events, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, nonjob-related handicap or disability, status as a victim of domestic violence, or hairstyles and protective and cultural hair textures and hairstyles.
(b)
For any employer, employment agency or labor organization to establish, announce or follow a policy of denying or limiting, through a quota system or otherwise, the employment or membership opportunities of any person or group of persons because of race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, place of birth, pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions and events, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, nonjob-related handicap or disability, status as a victim of domestic violence, or hairstyles and protective and cultural hair textures and hairstyles.
(c)
For any employer, labor organization, employment agency or any joint labor management committee controlling apprentice training programs to deny to or withhold from any person the right to be admitted to or participate in a guidance program, an apprenticeship training program, an on-the-job training program or any other occupational training program because of race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, place of birth, pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions and events, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, nonjob-related handicap or disability, status as a victim of domestic violence, or hairstyles and protective and cultural hair textures and hairstyles.
(d)
For any employer, employment agency or labor organization to require of any applicant for employment or membership any information concerning race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, place of birth, pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions and events, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, nonjob-related handicap or disability, status as a victim of domestic violence, or hairstyles and protective and cultural hair textures and hairstyles.
(e)
For any employer, employment agency or labor organization to publish or circulate, or to cause to be published or circulated, any notice or advertisement relating to employment or membership which indicates any discrimination because of race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, place of birth, pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions and events, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, nonjob-related handicap or disability, status as a victim of domestic violence, or hairstyles and protective and cultural hair textures and hairstyles.
(f)
For any employment agency to fail or refuse to classify properly or refer for employment or otherwise to discriminate against any person because of race, color religion, ancestry, national origin, place of birth, pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions and events, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, nonjob-related handicap or disability, status as a victim of domestic violence, or hairstyles and protective and cultural hair textures and hairstyles.
(g)
For any employer substantially to confine or limit recruitment or hiring of employees, with intent to circumvent the spirit and purpose of this Article, to any employment agency, employment service, labor organization, training school, training center or any other employee-referring source which serves persons who are predominantly of the same race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, place of birth, pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions and events, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, nonjob-related handicap or disability, status as a victim of domestic violence, or hairstyles and protective and cultural hair textures and hairstyles.
(h)
For any labor organization to discriminate against any person in any way which would deprive or limit their employment opportunities or otherwise adversely affect their status as an applicant for employment or as an employee with regard to tenure, compensation, promotion, discharge or any other terms, conditions or privileges directly or indirectly related to employment because of race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, place of birth, pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions and events, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, nonjob-related handicap or disability, status as a victim of domestic violence, or hairstyles and protective and cultural hair textures and hairstyles.
(i)
For any employer, employment agency or labor organization to discriminate against any person because the individual has opposed any practice forbidden by this Article or because the individual has made a complaint or testifies or assisted in any manner in any investigation or proceeding under this Article.
(j)
For any person, whether or not an employer, employment agency or labor organization, to aid, incite, compel, coerce or participate in the doing of any act declared to be an unlawful employment practice by this Article, or to obstruct or prevent any person from enforcing or complying with the provisions of this Article or any rule, regulation or order of the Human Relations Commission, or to attempt directly or indirectly to commit any act declared by this section to be an unlawful employment practice.
(k)
Nothing in this Section shall limit the authority of any court to restrict the travel of an abuser into an abused person's place of employment under the Pennsylvania Protection from Abuse Act, Act of December 19, 1990, P.L. 1240, No. 206, § 2 (23 Pa. C.S. § 6101 et seq.).
(l)
For any employer, employment agency or labor organization to discriminate in hiring or employment against any employee or prospective employee because of the individual's lawful status as a medical marijuana patient, including by requiring pre-employment testing for marijuana and such testing during the course of employment as a condition of the employee's employment.
(1)
This prohibition shall not apply to persons working in the following jobs or professions:
(A)
Any position which is subject to drug testing due to regulations of the United States Department of Transportation or the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation.
(B)
Any position that requires the employee to carry a firearm.
(C)
Any applicants whose prospective employer is a party to a valid collective bargaining agreement that specifically addresses the pre-employment drug testing of such applicants.
(2)
In accordance with the requirements of the Pennsylvania Medical Marijuana Act, Section 510, the following prohibitions shall apply:
(A)
A patient may not operate or be in physical control of any of the following while under the influence with a blood content of more than 10 nanograms of active tetrahydrocannabis per milliliter of blood in serum:
(B)
A patient may not perform any employment duties at heights or in confined spaces, including, but not limited to, mining while under the influence of medical marijuana.
(C)
A patient may be prohibited by an employer from performing any task which the employer deems life-threatening, to either the employee or any of the employees of the employer, while under the influence of medical marijuana. The prohibition shall not be deemed an adverse employment decision even if the prohibition results in financial harm for the patient.
(D)
A patient may be prohibited by an employer from performing any duty which could result in a public health or safety risk while under the influence of medical marijuana. The prohibition shall not be deemed an adverse employment decision even if the prohibition results in financial harm for the patient.
(3)
Employer may take disciplinary action against medical marijuana patient employee if:
(A)
Employee is under the influence of medical marijuana in the workplace or is working while under the influence of medical marijuana, where the employee's conduct falls below the standard of care normally accepted for that position.
(4)
Employer is not required to allow use of medical marijuana on the premises or property of the workplace.
(5)
This limitation does not apply to testing for illegal use of controlled substances.
(6)
This limitation does not apply to for-cause drug testing performed when supervisors have reasonable cause to suspect an employee of being under the influence of a drug while at work.
(7)
This limitation does not apply to drug testing performed after a workplace accident.
(8)
Nothing in this ordinance shall require an employer to commit any acts that would put the employer or any person acting on its behalf in violation of Pennsylvania or Federal Law.
(9)
Nothing in this ordinance shall supersede any existing Pennsylvania or Federal law.
[Ord. 15-1979, eff. 5-29-1979; Ord. 23-1992, eff. 5-28-1992; Am. Ord. 8-1997, eff. 2-7-1997; Ord. No. 59-2015, § 2, eff. 12-18-2015; Ord. No. 16-2016, § 1, eff. 6-21-2016; Ord. No. 22-2017, eff. 4-24-2017; Ord. No. 27-2019, § 1, eff. 7-9-2019; Ord. No. 15-2020, § 1, 5-13-2020; Ord. No. 17-2020, § 1, eff. 6-26-2020; Ord. No. 35-2020, § 3, eff. 10-23-2020; Ord. No. 27-2023, § eff. 10-31-2023; Ord. No. 28-2025, eff. 10-1-2025]
Protected classes under this section shall include actual or perceived: race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, place of birth, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, familial status, handicap, disability or use of support animals because of the handicap or disability of the user, status as a victim of domestic violence, citizenship or immigration status, preferred language, hairstyles and protective and cultural hair textures and hairstyles, and past or present housing status.
It shall be an unlawful housing practice, except as otherwise provided in this section:
(a)
For any owner, real estate broker or any other person to refuse to sell, lease, sublease, rent, assign or otherwise transfer, or to refuse to negotiate for the sale, lease, sublease, rental, assignment or other transfer of, the title, leasehold or other interest in any dwelling to any person, or to represent that any dwelling is not available for inspection, sale, lease, sublease, rental, assignment or other transfer when in fact it is so available, or otherwise to deny or withhold any dwelling from any person because of actual or perceived protected class identity or status or to discriminate against, segregate or assign quotas to any person or group of persons in connection with the sale, lease, sublease, rental, assignment or other transfer of the title, leasehold, or other interest in any dwelling or dwellings.
(b)
For any person, including any owner or real estate broker, to include in the terms, conditions or privileges of any sale, lease, sublease, rental, assignment or other transfer of any dwelling any clause, condition or restriction discriminating against or requiring any other person to discriminate against, any person in the use or occupancy of such dwelling because of actual or perceived protected class identity or status.
(c)
For any person, including any owner or real estate broker, to discriminate in the furnishing of any facilities or services for any dwelling because of actual or perceived protected class identity or status.
(d)
For any person, including any owner or real estate broker, to publish, circulate, issue or display, or cause to be published, circulated, issued or displayed, any communication, notice, advertisement or sign of any kind relating to the sale, rental, lease, sublease, assignment, transfer or listing of a dwelling or accommodations which indicates any preference, limitation, specification or discrimination based on the actual or perceived protected class identity or status.
(e)
For any person, including any bank, banking organization, mortgage company, insurance company or other financial or lending institution, or any agent or employee thereof, engaged in whole or in part in the business of providing or arranging for appraisals and/or for financial assistance for the purchase, lease, acquisition, construction, rehabilitation, repair or maintenance of any dwelling or dwellings:
(1)
To discriminate against any person or group of persons because of the actual or perceived protected class identity or status of such person or group of persons or of the prospective occupants or tenants of such dwelling in the granting, withholding, extending, modifying or in the rates, terms, conditions or privileges of any such financial assistance in connection therewith; or
(2)
To use any form of application for such financial assistance or make any record of inquiry in connection with applications for such financial assistance which indicates, directly or indirectly, any limitation, specification or discrimination as to actual or perceived protected class identity or status or any intent to make any such limitation, specification or discrimination.
(f)
For any real estate broker or real estate salesperson or agent, or any other person for business or economic purposes, to induce, directly or indirectly, or to attempt to induce directly or indirectly, the sale or rental or the listing for sale or rental, of any dwelling by representing that a change has occurred or will or may occur regarding the entry or prospective entry into the neighborhood of a person or persons of an actual or perceived protected class identity or status of the street, block, neighborhood or area in which such dwelling is located.
(g)
For any real estate broker, agent, sales representative or other person to solicit any property for sale or rental or the listing of any property for sale or rental at any time after such real estate broker, agent, sales representative or other person shall have written notice that any owner or occupant of such real estate does not desire to sell such real estate, or does not desire to be solicited either by such real estate broker, agent, sales representative or other person, or by any and all brokers, agents, sales representatives or other persons. The word "solicit" means any printed matter mailed or delivered to the owner or occupant of a residential property by any real estate broker, agent, sales representative or other person or any oral communication made either in person or by telephone to the owner or occupant of a residential property by any real estate broker, agent, sales representative or other person which advertises the accomplishments and/or abilities of the real estate broker, agent, sales representative or other person to sell homes or rent apartments or which requests or suggests that the owner or occupant list their house for sale or rent with the real estate broker, agent, sales representative or other person or which offers to purchase or rent the owner's house or apartment.
(1)
All written correspondence hereunder shall be by certified mail, return receipt requested. The owner or occupant shall provide the Commission a true and correct copy of the written notice to the real estate broker, agent, sales representative or other person at the time such notice is given. The notice may be by individual letter or by petition. The notice is effective upon receipt by the real estate broker, agent, sales representative or other person.
(2)
The Commission on its own motion or on appeal by the broker, agent, sales representative or other person after notice and public hearing, may declare any notice null and void if it finds such notice discriminates against any such real estate broker, agent, sales representative or other person.
(3)
All notices are void after one (1) year unless renewed within thirty (30) days of the expiration date.
(4)
The provisions of this subsection (g) shall not be applicable to any person who has placed their home for sale.
(h)
For any real estate broker, agent, sales representative or other person to solicit the owner or occupant of a dwelling located within a nonsolicitation area. The Commission may designate an area as a nonsolicitation area for a period of up to one (1) year upon making written findings based on substantial evidence introduced at a public hearing that practices made unlawful by subsection (f) hereof are causing or are likely to cause blockbusting or panic selling within the area.
(1)
The Commission may extend one (1) or more times the designation of a nonsolicitation area for a period of one (1) year upon making written findings based on substantial evidence introduced at a public hearing that practices made unlawful by subsection (f) hereof are continuing to occur. The public hearing on any extension shall be held not more than thirty (30) days before the day on which the designation or earlier extension is scheduled to expire. The Commission may by this same procedure, at any time, terminate the designation of a nonsolicitation area, or extension of any such designation made pursuant to this subsection (h).
(2)
The Commission shall promptly announce by legal notice each designation or extension made pursuant to this subsection (h), describing the area to which it applies by reference to named streets and/or landmarks. Any designation or extension shall take effect upon completion of the publication required for legal notice.
(3)
The Commission shall maintain and make available to all interested persons a listing of designated nonsolicitation areas.
(4)
The Commission may, in accordance with the provisions of this Article, attempt to reach a nonsolicitation agreement with real estate brokers, agents, sales representatives or other persons doing business within a specified geographical area.
(5)
The word "solicit" shall have the same meaning as set forth in subsection (g) hereof.
(i)
For any person to deny access, membership or participation in any multiple listing service, real estate brokers' organization or other service, organization or facility relating to the business of selling or renting dwellings, or to discriminate in the terms or conditions of such access, membership or participation, on account of actual or perceived protected class identity or status.
(j)
Nothing in this Article shall bar any religious or sectarian institution or organization, or any charitable or educational organization which is operated, supervised or controlled by or in connection with a religious or sectarian organization, or any bona fide private or fraternal organization from limiting admission to or giving preference with respect to the sale, rental, or occupancy of any dwelling which the subject organization or entity owns or operates for other than commercial purposes to persons of the same religion or sect, or to members of such private or fraternal organization, or from making such selection as is calculated by such organization to promote the religious or sectarian principles or the aims, purposes or fraternal principles for which it is established or maintained, unless membership in such religion is restricted on account of race, color or national origin.
(k)
For purposes of this Section only, discrimination on the basis of handicap or disability also includes:
(1)
A refusal to permit, at the expense of the handicapped person, reasonable modifications of existing premises occupied or to be occupied by such person if such modifications may be necessary to afford such person full enjoyment of the premises, except that, in the case of a rental, the landlord may, where it is reasonable to do so, condition permission for a modification on the renter agreeing to restore the interior of the premises to the condition that existed before the modification, reasonable wear and tear excepted;
(2)
A refusal to make reasonable accommodations in rules, policies, practices or services, when the accommodations may be necessary to afford the person equal opportunity to use and enjoy a dwelling; or
(3)
In connection with the design and construction of covered multifamily dwellings for first occupancy after March 13, 1991, a failure to design and construct those dwellings in a manner that:
A.
The public use and common use portions of the dwelling are readily accessible to and usable by handicapped persons;
B.
All the doors designed to allow passage into and within all premises within the dwellings are sufficiently wide to allow passage to handicapped persons in wheelchairs; and
C.
All premises within the dwelling contained the following features of adaptive design:
1.
An accessible route into and through the dwelling;
2.
Light switches, electrical outlets, thermostats, and other environmental controls in accessible locations;
3.
Reinforcements in bathroom walls to allow later installation of grab bars; and
4.
Usable kitchens and bathrooms so that an individual in a wheelchair can maneuver about the space.
D.
Compliance with the appropriate requirements of the American National Standard for buildings and facilities providing accessibility and usability for physically handicapped people, commonly cited as "ANSI A117.1-1996" satisfies the requirements of Section 659.03(k)(3)C above.
E.
Discriminatory housing practices filed pursuant to subsection (k)(3) hereof but occurring prior to the effective date of subsection (k)(3) hereof shall be referred to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development for processing and disposition.
F.
Nothing in this subsection requires that a dwelling be made available to an individual whose tenancy would constitute a direct threat to the health or safety of other individuals or whose tenancy would result in substantial physical damage to the property of others.
(l)
For purposes of this Section only, discrimination on the basis of actual or perceived status as a victim of domestic violence also includes:
(1)
A refusal by a landlord to permit a tenant to terminate a rental agreement and vacate the dwelling without penalty, fees, acceleration of rent, or other charges if all the following apply:
A.
The tenant provides written notice to the landlord that the tenant is a victim of domestic violence and that, due to an inciting incident, the tenant is requesting to terminate the lease on a date to be agreed upon by the tenant and the landlord, or, in the event of a disagreement, on a date that is at least fifteen (15) days from date of notice.
B.
The tenant provides one of the following to the landlord:
1.
A copy of a protective order issued under 23. Pa.C.S. Ch. 61 (relating to protection from abuse for the tenant.
2.
A copy of a protective order issued under 42 Pa.C.S § 62A07.
3.
A copy of a criminal complaint from a law enforcement agency that is related to the inciting incident.
4.
A copy of documentation signed by a third-party service provider showing that the tenant has sought assistance related to domestic violence from the provider. Qualifying documents can be provided by:
C.
The inciting incident occurred not longer than ninety (90) days before the tenant provided written notice to the landlord under paragraph (l)(1)(A). The landlord may waive the deadline specified under this paragraph.
D.
The tenant vacates the premises. Upon vacation of the premises, the tenant shall not be liable for future rent or other charges and shall not incur any penalties, fees, acceleration of rents, or other charges due to the early lease termination.
(2)
A refusal to change the locks upon the written request of a tenant who is a survivor of domestic violence.
A.
Upon the written request of a tenant who is a victim of domestic violence, a landlord shall change the locks to all entrance doors to the tenant's unit within five (5) business days; provided, that if the responsible party of domestic violence is a tenant in the same dwelling at the tenant who makes the request, the tenant who makes the request shall provide the landlord with a copy of a protective order issued under 23.Pa.C.S. Ch. 61 or Ch. 62 where the order grants exclusive possession or where the order is silent as to the exclusive possession of the dwelling unit to the tenant who made the request. If the responsible party of the domestic violence is not, or is no longer, a tenant in the same dwelling unit as the tenant who makes the request, no documentation of the domestic violence shall be required.
B.
The landlord shall pay the cost of changing the locks. No later than forty-five (45) days after the landlord provides the survivor of domestic violence who makes the request with documentation of the cost of changing the locks, the survivor of domestic violence shall reimburse the landlord for such cost and any associated fee; provided, that the fee shall not exceed the fee imposed on any other tenant for changing the locks under any other circumstances.
C.
Upon receipt of a copy of the court order pursuant to subsection A of this section, unless the court orders that the responsible party be allowed to return to the unit for some purpose, the landlord shall not provide the responsible party with keys to the unit or otherwise permit the responsible party access to the unit or to property within the unit.
D.
This section shall not be construed to relieve the responsible party of any obligation under a lease agreement or any other liability to the landlord.
(m)
For any person to coerce, intimidate, threaten or interfere with any person in the exercise or enjoyment of, or on account of the individual having exercised or enjoyed, or on account of the individual having aided or encouraged any other person in the exercise of enjoyment of, any right granted or protected under this Section or any rule or regulation of the Human Relations Commission.
(n)
Exceptions to unlawful housing practices.
(1)
Nothing in this Section shall limit the authority of the landlord, owner, agent, or other person operating or managing the premises to evict a tenant who is the victim of domestic violence for any violation of the lease other than one (1) premised on the act or acts of violence in question against such tenant, provided that, in determining whether to evict, the landlord, owner, agent, or other person operating or managing the premises does not apply a more demanding standard than that applied to other tenants who are not victims of domestic or sexual violence.
(2)
Nothing in this Section shall limit the authority of any court to evict an abuser under the Pennsylvania Protection from Abuse Act, Act of December 19, 1990, P.L. 1240, No. 206, § 2 (23 Pa. C.S. § 6101 et seq.).
(3)
Citizenship and immigration status protections are not applicable in federally-funded housing programs, including mortgage programs regulated by the federal department of Housing and Urban Development, when the applicant is determined to be an ineligible non-citizen or not part of an eligible non-citizen family.
(o)
Discriminate against any person because they have opposed any practice forbidden by this Article or because they have made a complaint or testified or assisted in any manner in any investigation or proceeding under this Article.
[Ord. 13-1980, eff. 8-8-1980; Am. Ord. 2-1990, eff. 4-3-1990; Am. Ord. 3-1997, eff. 2-7-1997; Ord. No. 23-2017, eff. 4-24-2017; Ord. No. 27-2019, § 1, eff. 7-9-2019; Ord. No. 15-2020, § 1, 5-13-2020; Ord. No. 17-2020, § 1, eff. 6-26-2020; Ord. No. 35-2020, § 4, eff. 10-23-2020; Ord. No. 13-2025, eff. 7-9-2025]
It shall be an unlawful public accommodation practice for the owner, lessee, proprietor, manager, superintendent, agent or employee of any business or place of public accommodation, resort, recreation or amusement to:
(a)
Refuse, withhold from or deny to any person because of their race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, place of birth, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, handicap or disability or use of support animals because of the handicap, disability of the user, actual or perceived citizenship or immigration status, or actual or perceived preferred language, or hairstyles and protective and cultural hair textures and hairstyles either directly or indirectly, any of the accommodations, advantages, facilities, services or privileges, products or goods in such place of public accommodation, resort or amusement.
(b)
Publish, circulate, issue, display, post or mail, either directly or indirectly, any printed, verbal, or written communication, notice or advertisement to the effect that indicates any preference, limitation, specification, or discrimination of any of the accommodations, advantages, facilities, goods, products, services and privileges of any such place shall be refused, withheld or denied to any person on account of race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, place of birth, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, handicap or disability or use of support animals because of the handicap or disability of the user, or that the patronage of any person of any particular race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, place of birth, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, handicap, disability or use of guide dogs because of the blindness of the user, or actual or perceived citizenship or immigration status, or actual or perceived preferred language or hairstyles and protective and cultural hair textures and hairstyles is unwelcome, objectionable, or not acceptable, desired or solicited.
(c)
Aid, incite, compel, coerce or participate in the doing of any act declared to be an unlawful public accommodations practice under this Article, whether such person is included by reference or not.
(d)
Discriminate against any person because that individual has opposed any practice forbidden by this Article or because that individual has made a complaint or testified or assisted in any manner in any investigation or proceeding under this Article.
(e)
Refuse, withhold from, or deny to any person elective medical care which would normally be provided to a person, but for that person's real or perceived gender identity or gender expression.
[Ord. 2-1985, eff. 2-6-1985; Am. Ord. 2-1997, eff. 2-7-1997]
Any person who burns or desecrates a cross or other religious symbol on any private premises or property primarily used for religious, educational, residential, memorial, charitable or cemetery purposes, or for assembly by persons of a particular race, color, creed or religion, or on any public property, or who places or displays in any such location a sign, mark, symbol, emblem or other physical impression, including but not limited to a Nazi swastika or any manner of exhibit in which a burning cross, real or simulated, is a whole or part thereof (as used herein, "desecrate" means to mar, deface or damage):
(a)
With the intent to deprive any person or class of persons of the equal protection of the laws or of equal privileges and immunities under the laws, or for the purpose of preventing or hindering the constituted authorities of the United States, of this State or any subdivision hereof from giving or securing to all persons within the State the equal protection of the laws; or
(b)
With the intent, to injure, intimidate or interfere with any persons because of their exercise of any right secured by federal, State or local laws, or to intimidate such person or any other person or any class of persons from exercising any right secured by federal, State or local law; or
(c)
With the intent to intimidate, threaten, abuse or harass any other person; or
(d)
With the intent to cause another person to fear for his or her personal safety, or, where it is probable that reasonable persons will be put in fear for their personal safety by the defendant's actions, with reckless disregard for such probability; shall be guilty of a summary offense punishable by a maximum fine of one thousand dollars ($1,000.00) or sixty (60) days in jail or both.
(e)
Law enforcement agencies arresting persons pursuant to the provisions of this Chapter shall notify the Commission on Human Relations, City of Pittsburgh and shall provide to them upon official request the necessary and pertinent documents to initiate and conduct any investigations undertaken by the Commission relative to the specific case or incident.
[Ord. 29-1980, eff. 12-31-1980; Am. Ord. 2-1985, eff. 2-6-1985]
In the event the respondent refuses or fails to comply with any order of the Human Relations Commission or violates any of the provisions of this Article, the Commission shall certify the case and the entire record of its proceedings to its Solicitor, who shall invoke the aid of an appropriate court to secure enforcement or compliance with the order or to impose the penalties as set forth in this Code.
[Ord. 32-1996, eff. 11-1-1996; Ord. No. 33-2025, eff. 11-12-2025]
(a)
It shall be an unlawful civil rights practice for any City of Pittsburgh employee, official, or agency including City of Pittsburgh Police, while acting as a representative of the City of Pittsburgh, to discriminate in the treatment of any person because of their protected class. In the case of the police, such unlawful discriminatory treatment includes, but is not limited to interviews, confrontations, detentions, investigations, interrogations, patdowns, searches, seizures, or arrests conducted because of the person's actual or perceived protected class identity or status.
(b)
Protected classes under this section shall include Race; Color; Religion; Ancestry; National Origin; Place of Birth; Sex; Sexual Orientation; Pregnancy; Gender Identity or Expression; Handicap or Disability, including use or training of assistance animals; Hairstyles and protective and cultural hair textures and hairstyles; Citizenship or immigration status; Preferred language; and Victims of domestic violence.
(c)
If a complaint has been filed with the bureau, division or office in charge of internal affairs, the bureau, division or office in charge of internal affairs shall cooperate with the Commission and provide all information necessary for the Commission's proceedings to the extent possible.
(d)
If, after a hearing, the Commission finds that a respondent has not engaged in or is not engaging in any unlawful civil rights practices as defined in this section, and the respondent proves that the complaint upon which the hearing was based was brought in bad faith, the Commission may award attorney fees and costs to the prevailing respondent.