Opponents of
Allentown, Pa., antidiscrimination law end legal challenge

Opponents of a city ordinance in Allentown, Pa., that prohibits discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity have decided not to take their legal challenge to the state supreme court. Their decision means an August 11 ruling by a commonwealth court will stand. A three-judge panel said the city could legally broaden its antidiscrimination ordinance. That ruling reversed a decision by a Lehigh County judge, who initially struck down the antibias protections, saying the city exceeded its authority under state law. In 2002, Allentown amended its Human Relations Commission act--a law that prohibited employment and housing discrimination based on such things as race, religion, and country of origin--to include sexual orientation and gender identity. The legal challenge was later filed by landlords Gerry S. Hartman, John Lapinski, and Robert and Debbie Roycroft. Their lawyer, Randall L. Wenger, said Friday that he discussed a possible appeal to the state's highest court but that the landlords decided against it. "Ultimately, it's the clients' decision not to," he said. "I advised them of my thoughts, and we, as a group, decided not to." (AP)