Testimony before the Philadelphia City Council
The Pennsylvania Student Equality Coalition
Testimony by Jason Landau Goodman, Executive Director
Regarding Bill #110057 – Equal Benefits in City Contracting
December 1, 2011
Good morning, Council President Verna, Councilmembers; my name is Jason Landau Goodman. I am a senior at the University of Pennsylvania – my family has lived in Philadelphia for 5 generations. I am also the founding Executive Director of the Pennsylvania Student Equality Coalition, and on behalf of PSEC I would like to thank you for accepting this testimony in support of Bill #110057.
The Pennsylvania Student Equality Coalition is the Keystone state’s LGBTQ youth organization. We represent thousands of young Pennsylvanians based with student organizations at high schools, colleges, and universities throughout the commonwealth. Our PSEC Philadelphia chapter includes student youth who learn, live, and work all throughout the city. We support the passage of Bill #110057 as essential in securing equality and prosperity for Philadelphians regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity.
Harvey Milk, the openly gay San Francisco City Supervisor whose assassination we mark this week, once said “all men are created equal: no matter how hard you try, you can never erase those words.” The reality is that our nation and state have yet to realize this in employment. We are very fortunate for the incredible work over the past 30+ years in Philadelphia by community leaders and your predecessors who have made our city a beacon for equality. Bill #110057 is another step towards the goal of full equality and inclusion of LGBT people.
If this bill is adopted, it would send an extraordinarily positive message to Philadelphia youth. It will allow Philadelphians in same sex partnerships to fully commit to an occupation which allows him to prosper in his pursuit of happiness. The void without this law expresses that it is acceptable or expected to not give these benefits to employees in same sex partnerships. We notice this in coming out into the world.
As youth join the workforce who may identify as LGBT or an ally to LGBT people, equal benefits are an important benchmark. It is absolutely essential in attracting the brightest graduates and retaining the best employees in the City for economic gain instead of watching them go to the other places or employers with these protections.
The absence of access to equal benefits impacts attitudes toward LGBT people in many different ways. Harassment and bullying we face in our schools is directly linked to the laws you pass, or do not pass. Fairness and equality is something that is deeply felt throughout our entire society. If the child of a city contractor sees a parent treat an employee with a same sex partner the same way they would interact with a straight employee, what reason would that child have to go to school the next day to act in a homophobic way? One reason less.
It is known throughout the nation that Philadelphia is a leader in LGBT equality. The Philadelphia Fair Practices Ordinance enumerates employment protections which do not yet exist in state or federal law. We are a better Philadelphia because we protect people against discrimination – but we must also take the steps toward lifting all restrictions or limitations in employment on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity. While we work hard in Harrisburg and Washington – Philadelphia must continue to lead.
We commend you for your support today – this is what it means to be a Philadelphian: believing that all people are created equal. On behalf of the Pennsylvania Student Equality Coalition, we thank you for your leadership on this issue.
Respectfully yours,
Jason Landau Goodman
Executive Director, The Pennsylvania Student Equality Coalition