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Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro has signed the CROWN Act into law, a measure that prohibits discrimination on the basis of hairstyle, type, or texture.
The law, formally titled “Creating a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair,” was approved as state officials argued that certain hairstyles have been used as grounds for unequal treatment in workplaces and schools.
Shapiro said the law addresses discrimination he believes remains present in the state.
“Real freedom means being respected for who you are – no matter what you look like, where you come from, who you love, or who you pray to…For too long, many Pennsylvanians have faced discrimination simply for hairstyles that reflect their identity and culture – that ends today,” he stated during the bill signing.
Supporters of the legislation described the measure as a response to incidents in which they say individuals faced negative treatment based on their appearance.
PA House Speaker Joanna McClinton said the law is intended to prevent employers from making decisions tied to hair rather than job performance.
“This is going to help people by making sure that, wherever you work, or wherever you’re applying for a job, they can’t look at your hair and size you up – not based on your qualifications and all of the professional development you have and all of your education,” McClinton said.
“They will not look at your hair and decide you can’t work here. They will not look at your hair and decide you don’t belong in this C-suite. They will not look at your hair and say, ‘you can’t be in the boardroom.’”
full story at https://www.lifezette.com/2025/11/hair-discrimination-is-now-illegal-in-pennsylvania-thanks-to-democrats-watch/