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Statewide Relationship Recognition
no Licenses marriages for same-sex couples.
no Honors marriages of same-sex couples from other jurisdictions
no Relationship recognition for same-sex couples: none.
  • 1996 Anti-marriage bill adopted. House Bill 2604 introduced by Rep. Alan Egolf (R) on May 7. Would declare “same-sex marriage” to be “repugnant to public policy,” and states that “No same-sex marriage shall be recognized as entitled to the benefits of marriage.” Further says that “any marriage entered into by persons of the same sex, where such license is issued by another state... shall be void... and any contractual rights granted by virtue of such license, including its termination, shall be unenforceable in the courts [of Pennsylvania].” Passed by House. Senate Bill 155 — Senate concurs on Oct. 1. Signed by Governor Tom Ridge (R). See Penn. Statutes Title 23 § 1704.

Statewide Employment Protections
no Private employment protections based on sexual orientation.
no Private employment protections based on gender identity.
yes Public (state) employment protections based on sexual orientation.
yes Public (state) employment protections based on gender identity.

See Executive Order No. 2003-10 (7/28/2003).

Statewide Parenting Laws
Who May Adopt Any individual. 23 Pa. C.S.A. 2312.
Second Parent Adoptions Expressly permitted by In re Adoption of R.B.F., 803 A.2d 1195 (Pa.  2002).
Notes

Regional Offices Information

National Headquarters

Midwest Region

Midwest Regional Office
11 East Adams
Suite 1008
Chicago , Illinois , 60603-6303
312-663-4413
www.lambdalegal.org/mro
Region Includes:
Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, Wisconsin

South Central Region

South Central Regional Office
3500 Oak Lawn Avenue
Suite 500
Dallas , Texas , 75219-6722
214-219-8585
www.lambdalegal.org/scro
Region Includes:
Arkansas, Colorado, Kansas, Louisiana, Nebraska, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas

Southern Region

Southern Regional Office
730 Peachtree Street, NE
Suite 1070
Atlanta , Georgia , 30308-1210
404-897-1880
www.lambdalegal.org/sro
Region Includes:
Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia

Western Region

Western Regional Office
3325 Wilshire Boulevard
Suite 1300
Los Angeles , California , 90010-1729
213-382-7600
www.lambdalegal.org/wro
Region Includes:
Alaska, Arizona, California, Hawai`i, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Washington, Wyoming

Related Content for region

8/18/2011
Lambda Legal Reaches Settlement with Philadelphia Youth Detention Facility That Tormented Transgender Girl
(Philadelphia, PA August 18, 2011) - Today Lambda Legal announced the resolution of a discrimination complaint with the Philadelphia Commission on Human Relations (PCHR) against the City of Philadelphia Department of Human Services (DHS) and the Youth Study Center (YSC) among others.
3/24/2010
Lambda Legal, Mazzoni Center Help Defend Philadelphia's Nondiscrimination Policy Against Boy Scouts Lawsuit
The Boy Scouts are entitled to their beliefs, but they have no right to make the City of Philadelphia's taxpayers foot the bill for their harmful discrimination against gay people."
11/29/2006
Pennsylvania Lets Historic Custody Decision Stand in Lesbian Parenting Case
(Philadelphia, November 29, 2006) — The Supreme Court of Pennsylvania let stand a lower court ruling awarding custody to Patricia Jones (a lesbian mother) because she would provide a better home than her ex-partner, Ellen Boring (the children's biological parent).
9/27/2005
Pennsylvania Court Says Children's Welfare Comes Before Rights of Biological Parent in Case Involving Lesbian Mothers
(Philadelphia, September 27, 2005) — The Superior Court of Pennsylvania affirmed a lower court ruling awarding custody of twins to Patricia Jones, a lesbian mother, ruling that Jones would provide a better home than her ex-partner, Ellen Boring (the children's biological parent).
10/27/2009
L.P. v. Philadelphia, et al.
Case representing a transgender girl subjected to verbal and physical abuse because of her sexual orientation, gender identity, sex and disability while in the custody of a secure youth detention facility in Philadelphia.
2/23/2004
Jones v. Boring
Case arguing for the rights of a non-biological parent to receive primary custody of a child if biological parent is unfit
10/3/1996
T.B. v. L.R.M.
Case arguing to protect the rights of gay and lesbian parents to be fully recognized as such, even if they are not biologically related to their children
Doe v. County of Centre
(Amicus) case arguing against a policy instituted by the Centre County Children and Youth Services, which barred placement of HIV-negative foster children in the care of foster families that are providing care for children living with HIV

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