Gay rights advocates are hoping the same-sex marriage ruling in Pennsylvania paves the way for laws to prohibit bias against residents based on their sexual orientation and gender identity.
Identical bills in the state House and Senate would protect lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Pennsylvanians from being discriminated in housing, employment, and public accommodations.
Equality PA director Ted Martin said about 30 percent of the state has such protections in place at the municipal level, but his group is seeking a state law.
"In most of the state you can get married and then be fired for putting your wedding picture out on your desk," Martin said. "In over 70 percent of the state, there’s no protection against discrimination in employment, housing and public accommodations based on sexual orientation or gender identity."
Proposals to ban such discrimination have stalled in House and Senate committees for nearly a year.
Both measures have a bipartisan group of co-sponsors. Gov. Corbett says he supports them as well.
