Commissioner Zanelli: Hate Has No Home in Lehigh County, Celebrates Nondiscrimination Order; Endorses Wild for Congress<\/strong><\/p>\n ALLENTOWN \u2013 Lehigh County department heads are now responsible for making sure that nondiscriminatory practices are used throughout their projects and programs.<\/p>\n Standing beside a \u201cHate Has No Home Here\u201d banner, Lehigh County Executive Phillips Armstrong, Commissioner Amy Zanelli and Adrian Shanker, executive director of the Bradbury Sullivan LGBT Community Center, announced and issued an administrative notice Wednesday. The action directs department heads to \u201censure that discrimination by reason of race, color, religion, gender, national origin, age, political affiliation, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression or disability does not exist\u201d in the county\u2019s selection of contractors, in hiring workers or in any labor associated practices.<\/p>\n \u201cMany members of the LGBTQ community are fear stricken as our rights and protections have been threatened at the federal level,\u201d Zanelli said. \u201cToday is proof that we don\u2019t need another hero. We are running, we are winning, and we will continue to legislate against hate.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThere\u2019s never a wrong time to do the right thing,\u201d said Armstrong. \u201cI think it\u2019s time we do the right thing,\u201d he said. \u201cWe will make these changes in our policies and we will pursue equal treatment for everyone.\u201d<\/p>\n The administrative notice, prepared by Lehigh County Solicitor Sarah M. Murray, affirms the administration\u2019s commitment to nondiscriminatory practices when hiring, subcontracting, promoting workers or when awarding or selecting contracts or grants by any of the Lehigh County departments, offices and bureaus.<\/p>\n Zanelli called on Northampton County, state and federal lawmakers to join Lehigh County in supporting nondiscrimination and to strengthen protections against discrimination in any form.<\/p>\n \u201cAmy\u2019s speech brought tears to my eyes.,\u201d said Pennsylvania State Representative Jeanne McNeill who represents Lehigh Valley\u2019s 133rd<\/sup> District. \u00a0\u201cI plan to continue to fight for this on other levels. I will be contacting people in Harrisburg and see what avenues we can take and what direction we can take.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI am so proud that the county has done this,\u201d said Susan Wild, a candidate for Pennsylvania\u2019s 15th<\/sup> Congressional District. \u201cI think that adding freedom of gender expression and identity as a criterion for doing business with the county is essential.\u00a0 I really believe that the Lehigh Valley has a very progressive core that is waiting to be awakened and this is a really important step in doing that. I\u2019m really proud of Phil Armstrong and Amy Zanelli.\u201d<\/p>\n Zanelli took the opportunity today to endorse Wild\u2019s candidacy.\u00a0 \u201cI think Susan is the strongest candidate to win in November, so I am putting my support behind her now,\u201d Zanelli said.<\/p>\n Information provided to TVL by: <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n
\nCarolynn Fedor<\/p>\n
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