City Council Moves to Strengthen Protections Against Discrimination in Workplace and Public Spaces

Official:Amending Chapter 9-1100 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled "Fair Practices," by changing the title to "Fair Practices Ordinance: Protections Against Unlawful Discrimination," by replacing "handicap" with disability as a protected status, by adding domestic or sexual violence victim status, familial status, and genetic information to the prohibited bases for discrimination; by amending the definition of discrimination, employer, life partnership, public accommodation and other terms, and by adding or deleting other definitions; by narrowing certain exemptions with respect to employment preferences; by amending the prohibition against housing discrimination to include commercial property and real property; by reordering and clarifying the complaint, mediation and hearing procedures of the Commission; by amending and clarifying the remedies available to the Commission upon a finding of a violation; and by changing the order of sections and making other changes, all under certain terms and conditions.