LGBT measure wins support of Philly City Council committee

A bill promising equitable treatment of gays, lesbians and others has earned the backing of a Philadelphia City Council committee. 

Councilman Jim Kenney’s bill is designed to make city regulations gender-neutral.

“For example, in school forms it’s ‘mother’ and ‘father’,” he said Thursday. “We’re going to change things to ‘parent one’ and ‘parent two.’

“Everything in this government, every benefit that this government offers or anything that is allowed in this is to benefit everybody,” he said. “It’s not to exclude people based on their gender, race sexual orientation or anything else.”

Equality Pennsylvania President Adrian Shanker says the bill would be groundbreaking in giving tax breaks to companies with policies friendly to same-sex couples.

“The first in the nation equality tax credit, which incentivizes businesses to offer domestic-partner health benefits and transition-related health care for transgendered employees will go a long way to making sure that LGBT Philadelphians will have access to health care,” Shanker said.

After passing in committee, the measure will now go before the entire council.