Legal Challenge to Haverford Township Anti-Discrimination Ordinance Continues

Back on February 15, I reported on the new anti-discrimination ordinance passed by Haverford Township in Delaware County, PA, which not only makes it illegal for employers doing business in Haverford Township to discriminate against employees or applicants on the grounds of sex, religion, race and national origin, but also added sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression as protected classes - something that neither Pennsylvania nor the Federal Government has yet to do.

Since then, a Haverford Township resident, Fred Teal, has filed a lawsuit challenging the validity of that Ordinance, arguing it is illegal because the Township allegedly failed to follow the proper procedures in adopting it.  Mr. Teal has also argued that two of the Haverford Township Commissioners should have recused themselves from the proceedings surrounding the adoption of the Ordinance because they have homosexual relatives.  

The Delaware County Daily Times is reporting that on September 27, 2011, Judge Pagano of the Delaware County Court of Common Pleas overruled the Township's preliminary objections to Mr. Teal's action, which means that for the moment, the lawsuit will continue.  The Township must now file an Answer to Mr. Teal's Complaint. 

You can read the full story from the Delaware County Daily Times here: http://delcotimes.com/articles/2011/10/10/news/doc4e92630eb4ce5699604790.txt?viewmode=fullstory