Greater Philadelphia Roundtable: What are the challenges facing LGBT people in the fight for equality? The Greater Philadelphia region has a rich LGBT history. From the first organized LGBT demonstration in the country at Dewey’s Lunch Counter to the passage of the Philadelphia civil rights bill covering sexual orientation in 1982, the Philadelphia civil rights bill covering gender identity in 2002, the statewide Hate Crimes Bill of 2002, and more, recovering the stories of LGBT leaders and people from all communities informs the past and strengthens the future.
This inaugural session of the Greater Philadelphia Roundtable met on March 18, 2010, at the William Way Community Center. Organized by Kathy Padilla, who served as the discussion facilitator, the panel included Stephen Glassman, chairperson, Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission; Michael P. Williams, City of Philadelphia Law Department; and Stacey Sobel, Western State University, former executive director of Equality Advocates Pennsylvania. In addition, Professor William Hewitt of West Chester University spoke on the activism and legacy of Bayard Rustin. To continue the discussion on-line, see the links to program segments.