Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Corbett (R) is backing legislation that outlaws discrimination in the workplace based on sexual orientation.
Corbett told The Philadelphia Inquirer that he is “coming out in support” of Pennsylvania House Bill 300, which amends the Pennsylvania Human Relations Act to also ban discrimination based on sexual orientation. Corbett decided to back the bill after he learned that federal law does not cover that type of discrimination in Pennsylvania, according to the Inquirer.
“I’ve had people come and talk to me about how they were discriminated against,” Corbett told the Inquirer. “The federal government has antidiscrimination laws. I believed they covered it.”
Corbett cautioned that his decision did not change his definition of marriage as only between one man and one woman.
“My position hasn’t changed,” on same-sex marriage, Corbett said. “I understand other people’s positions. I believe marriage is one man and one woman. But we’ll let the court look at it.”
Throughout the year Corbett has been facing tough reelection prospects. A Quinnipiac University poll in April found that 50 percent of Pennsylvania voters believed Corbett did not deserve reelection.
