Pennsylvania passes Crown Act to combat hair discrimination
By Michael Fuller
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Pennsylvania (WGAL) — Pennsylvania is set to become the 28th state to pass the Crown Act, a law prohibiting discrimination based on hair and hairstyles, with the bill now awaiting Gov. Josh Shapiro’s signature.
The Crown Act, which stands for Creating a Respectful Open World for Natural Hair, aims to tackle discrimination in workplaces and schools against hairstyles such as braids, locs, and twists.
Advocates for legislation Pennsylvania Speaker Joanna McClinton has been a strong advocate for the legislation, emphasizing its importance for individuals who face career limitations due to their hair choices.
“So many people across Pennsylvania who’ve made decisions like I have in my personal about how I should wear my hair to make sure it doesn’t comprise a job opportunity it doesn’t make me look a certain way or that I won’t lose an opportunity to advance my career due to how my hair grows out of my head or how I chose to style it,” McClinton said.
The bill was introduced by Rep. LaTasha Mayes and Speaker McClinton, who have been working on it since 2019.
Despite previous setbacks, the legislation passed the state Senate with a 44-3 vote.
McClinton and local barbershop owner Tyrik Jackson shared their thoughts on the bill’s impact.
“To some of you watching, you may think, of course, you’re going to show up in a professional way with a professional style, but what does professional style mean? How is it defined, and when you think about the minorities, African Americans and Latinos? We are making decisions based off what the perception may be by someone else,” McClinton said.
“A haircut does so much for an individual when you have to cut someone’s hair because someone’s job requires them to it takes away from who they are as individual and it puts us in a box I’m so glad this legislation is passing it puts us outside of the box and it’s keeps us moving forward as a culture and a people,” Jackson said.
The governor is set to sign the bill into law sometime next week, according to Speaker McClinton.
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