Leading the Legislative Fight for LGBTQ+ Equality In Pennsylvania
As Pennsylvania’s 2025-2026 legislative session kicks off this week, Fairness PA is ready for a pivotal year of advocacy, leading the charge to protect and advance the rights of LGBTQ+ Pennsylvanians. As the first full-time LGBTQ+ lobby presence in Harrisburg in over half a decade, we understand the legislative process is where real change happens.
The decisions made in our State Capitol will shape whether LGBTQ+ people are treated with fairness, dignity, and respect, or left vulnerable to discrimination. This session, we are focused on bold action to ensure our community is protected and supported.
That’s why Fairness PA has launched our proactive legislative agenda focused on protecting and advancing the rights of LGBTQ+ Pennsylvanians across the Keystone State. This session, we’re pushing hard for key legislation that can make a tangible difference in the everyday lives of LGBTQ+ Pennsylvanians. Among our top legislative priorities are reintroducing several key bills designed to secure basic rights and protections for LGBTQ+ individuals.
This session, we are focused on getting the Fairness Act to Governor Shapiro’s desk after it historically passed the State House with bipartisan support last session before stalling in the Senate. This bill would finally put an end to discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity in employment, housing, and public accommodations – because no one should lose their job, home, or be denied service just for being who they are.
We’re also fighting for the passage of marriage equality legislation at the state level to ensure that same-sex marriages are fully recognized, regardless of any potential federal changes. We are working to ban conversion therapy, a cruel and harmful practice that targets LGBTQ+ youth. We are committed to modernizing the name change process in Pennsylvania to make it easier, safer, and more accessible for transgender and nonbinary people to live authentically. And we will continue pushing to strengthen protections against hate crimes, ensuring that violence against LGBTQ+ people is taken seriously and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.
But our work goes beyond these bills. We are fighting for a future where every LGBTQ+ Pennsylvanian – especially LGBTQ+ youth – can live and thrive without fear. That means protecting our kids in schools, making sure they are safe, accepted, and ensuring that they have access to inclusive education free from discrimination and bullying. It means fighting to protect access to gender-affirming healthcare for transgender individuals – whether they live here or seek the care they need here in the Keystone State.
These are issues that impact real people, our families, our friends, and our neighbors – and we can’t afford to let anyone be left behind. This is a critical year for all of us. The decisions made in Harrisburg will shape the future of our community in Pennsylvania, and Fairness Pennsylvania is prepared to lead the charge to fight for what is right – to build a more inclusive and equitable Commonwealth for all of us.
We know the work ahead won’t be easy, but with your support, we are confident that together, we can make lasting change for LGBTQ+ Pennsylvanians. Whether it’s calling your legislator, sharing our work with your network, or simply staying informed, your voice is powerful.
Together, we can make sure that Pennsylvania is a state where fairness, equality, and justice are for everyone. Stay tuned for updates and ways you can get involved as we fight for fairness, justice, and equality in 2025 and beyond.
