PCHR’s Commitment

INFORM

  • To promote awareness of rights and responsibilities under the civil rights laws of Philadelphia among all segments of the LGBTQ community, with particular attention given to the process for filing timely formal complaints.
  • To provide training regarding the civil rights laws of Philadelphia to the owners, leadership, management and staff of places of public accommodation providing goods and services to the LGBTQ community.
  • To step up public education regarding the broad power and authority of the PCHR to defend the full spectrum of the civil rights accorded to residents and visitors of Philadelphia, especially those rights which are not the subject of federal and state protections.

MONITOR

To monitor the adoption and implementation of recommendations by businesses and non-profit service providers according to the following schedule:

TIMELINE

  • All PCHR Fair Practices Ordinance posters must be displayed within 30 days.
  • All Fair Practices Ordinance training must be completed within 90 days
  • All implicit bias training must be completed within 120 days.
  • Bars and non-profits must report completion of recommendations to PCHR.

The PCHR has commenced its testing of the bars and will continue its efforts deploying testers to determine whether racially discriminatory or biased conduct is occurring in businesses mentioned in this report and throughout the Gayborhood.

ENFORCE

  • To receive and investigate complaints.
  • To refer to the City for appropriate action regarding any entity having a professional services contract with the City that is found guilty of violating the Fair Practices Ordinance .

Failure to comply with our mandatory recommendations may subject violators to the remedies of the FPO. These remedies may include, compensatory and punitive damages, injunctive relief, costs and attorney’s fees.

COMPLAINTS

In Philadelphia, it is illegal for employers, housing providers, businesses, providers of public accommodations and city services to treat individuals differently because of: Race, Color, Ancestry, Disability, Ethnicity, National Origin, Religion, Sex, Pregnancy and Breastfeeding, Age, Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity, Familial Status, Marital Status, Genetic Information, Source of Income, and Domestic or Sexual Violence Victim Status.

If you think you are a victim of discrimination in Philadelphia, call us, visit our office, or go to our website for more information.

The PCHR is also available for conflict resolution and mediation services.

CONTACT

Contact the PCHR at 215-686-4670 or pchr@phila.govwww.phila.gov/humanrelations

If you are a victim of a hate crime or bias incident, call the police, and report it to the PCHR at 215-686-4670, or call our anonymous hotline at 215-686-2856.