North Wales Borough Passes Anti-Discrimination Ordinance

NORTH WALES, PA — North Wales joined a large group of Montgomery County municipalities this week in passing a nondiscrimination ordinance designed to afford protections to the LGBTQ community.

The vote, held during Tuesday night's borough council meeting, was nearly unanimous in favor of the measure at 7-1. North Wales is now the 22nd municipality in the county to pass such a measure. It's been discussed in the council for months.

Called Ordinance 814, or the Human Relations Ordinance, the language in the measure supports protections for other individuals who may face discriminatory behavior, including those with disabilities. It formally prohibits discrimination in local businesses, housing, and other public services.

Discussion in recent months, both within the council and with members of the public in attendance at board meetings, offered critical concern that questioned how the ordinance could be enforced.

In designing the motion, North Wales based the language off of Lansdale's similar ordinance, passed in Aug. 2018.

In a statement, the North Wales Democratic Party thanked leaders Jim Sando, Sal Amato, Eion O'Neill, Ronny Little, and Wendy McClure for their "perseverance and hard work" in getting the measure passed.

State Sen. Marie Collett said that while she applauded the measure, there was still much work to be done, especially at the state level. Local municipalities feel pressure to pass these ordinances, supporters say, in the absence of more significant protections at the state or federal level.

"While I’m proud to see municipalities in Montgomery and Bucks Counties leading the way in this effort, we must continue to push for nondiscrimination legislation on a statewide level," she said in a statement.

There is a bill pending in the state senate, senate bill 613, which would codify these protections on a state level.