HARRISBURG (NewsRadio KDKA) — Governor Tom Wolf met with members of the Pennsylvania LGBTQ Affairs Commission to push forward Executive Order 2021-04.
The order updates Pennsylvania's workplace policies concerning sexual harassment, explicitly bolstering protections for employees within the LGBTQI+ community.
And even more specifically, the order adds "sexual orientation and gender identity or expression as protected classes under the commonwealth's sexual harassment policies."
And with the executive order Tuesday, Wolf reiterated the importance of workplace protection for LGBTQ community members.
"Sexual harassment based on sexual orientation or gender identity is wrong and unacceptable," said Wolf.
"Updating this policy underscores the protection against harassment in the workplace for commonwealth employees who are members of the LGBTQ community and reinforces our commonwealth's firm stand against any and all forms of sexual harassment. This is one more crucial step on our journey to ensuring equity, justice, and fairness for all Pennsylvanians."
LGBTQ Affairs Commission Executive Director Rafael Alvarez Febo also offered insight into the executive order: "We are proud to update and strengthen our commonwealth's sexual harassment policies to make it clear that LGBTQ+ state employees have access to safe and productive work environments.
"State employees carry out the important task of serving Pennsylvanians throughout the commonwealth, and they deserve the ability to do so without being harassed based on who they are or who they love."
Wolf has previously signed two other executive orders that advanced protection against harassment for LGBTQ workers, and Tuesday's order will help update sexual harassment training and management initiatives.