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Amending Chapter 9-1100 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled "Fair Practices Ordinance: Protections Against Unlawful Discrimination," to clarify that unlawful discrimination includes discrimination based on characteristics, such as hair texture and hairstyles; all under certain terms and conditions.

AI summary

This enacted ordinance amends Philadelphia’s Fair Practices Ordinance to clarify that unlawful racial discrimination includes discrimination based on hair texture and hairstyles. It covers protective and cultural hairstyles such as braids, cornrows, locs, Bantu knots, Afros, and twists, and took effect immediately.

File details

Status
ENACTED
Introduced
March 12, 2020
View official record ↗

Full text

THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA HEREBY ORDAINS:

SECTION 1. Chapter 9-1100 of The Philadelphia Code is hereby amended as follows:

CHAPTER 9-1100.

FAIR PRACTICES ORDINANCE:

PROTECTIONS AGAINST UNLAWFUL DISCRIMINATION

§ 9-1102. Definitions.

(1)

For purposes of this Chapter the following terms shall have the following

meanings:

(e)

Discrimination. Any direct or indirect practice of exclusion, distinction, restriction, segregation, limitation, refusal, denial, differentiation or preference in the treatment of a person on the basis of actual or perceived race, ethnicity, color, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, or a related medical condition), sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, national origin, ancestry, age, disability, marital status, source of income, familial status, genetic information or domestic or sexual violence victim status, or other act or practice made unlawful under this Chapter or under the nondiscrimination laws of the United States or the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

Discrimination on the basis of race shall include discrimination based on characteristics commonly associated with race, including hairstyles.

(m.1)

Hairstyles. Hair texture and styles of hair of any length, such as protective or cultural hairstyles, natural hairstyles, and other forms of hair presentation.

(w.1)

Protective or cultural hairstyles. Including, but not limited to, braids, cornrows, locs, Bantu knots, Afros, and twists, whether or not hair extensions are used to create any such style, and whether or not hair is adorned by hair ornaments, such as ribbon, headwraps, beads or barrettes.

SECTION 2. This Ordinance shall be effective immediately.

___________________________________

Explanation:

Italics

indicate new matter added.

End

File history

Sometimes city council's record keeping is not complete. This timeline reflects the information on the council's legistar website.
  1. Council actionMAYOR

    Signed

  2. Council actionCITY COUNCIL

    Read and ordered placed on next week's second reading calendar

    Council actionCITY COUNCIL

    Ordered placed on this day`s first reading calendar

    Council actionCITY COUNCIL

    Suspend the rules of the council

  3. Committee on Law and Government

    Details not published

    No details have been published for this item. Legistar notes that this meeting's minutes have not been finalized.
  4. CITY COUNCIL

    Details not published

    No details have been published for this item. Legistar notes that this meeting's minutes have not been finalized.