Are the problems of the gayborhood an indication of a larger problem in the city?

As the several bars in the gayborhood are under investigation due to hearings that were held in previous months, an anti-discrimination bill was  introduced by Councilman Derek Green to remedy the issue.

The bill is proposed to strengthen penalties against local establishments that are proven to be discriminatory on all levels, including to patrons and staff.  

The bill itself was unanimously voted through the Council’s Health and Human Services committee and could lead to one of the few ways the city is able to get a handle on a problem that has been reported by man, including those who attended the hearings.

A public statement from Councilman Green said that he was prompted to introduce the bill by “public outcry about discrimination in Philadelphia’s Gayborhood” based on the release of the owner of ICandy using a racial slur repeatedly.

The statement follows: “This ordinance gives the City another tool to protect the people of the LGBTQ community and other marginalized groups from these bigoted practices, and to take action against businesses that engage in them,” he said according to Philadelphia Magazine. “We have a history of being welcoming to all, and a responsibility to protect everybody’s rights.”

The bill would move to further the abilities of empower the Philadelphia Commission on Human Relations (PCHR) to “issue cease operations orders against businesses that have been found to have engaged in repeated or severe violations of the existing Fair Practices Ordnance, which prevents discrimination, including against those who use their public accommodation, in their employ, or who rent from them.”