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The Pennsylvania House of Representatives passed the CROWN Act on Monday (March 17), marking a significant step toward banning hair discrimination in the state. The bill, which stands for "Creating a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair," seeks to prohibit discrimination based on hairstyles commonly associated with race, such as tightly coiled or curled hair, cornrows, braids, and locs. The legislation passed with a strong majority vote of 194-8.
House Speaker Joanna McClinton and Representative La'Tasha D. Mayes, the original drafters of the bill, expressed optimism about its potential to address racial discrimination against natural hair. McClinton stated, "I'm hopeful that 2025 is the year that Pennsylvania shows the world that discrimination of any kind is not okay in the Keystone State."
The CROWN Act aims to amend the Pennsylvania Human Relations Act to include protections against discrimination based on hair type, texture, or style. This legislation is now headed to the Senate State Government Committee for consideration, a step it did not reach in the previous legislative session despite passing the House with a vote of 182-21.
Representative Mayes emphasized the importance of the bill, stating, "No one should face discrimination for wearing their hair as it naturally grows from their head or in protective styles such as locs, braids, or cornrows." Advocates hope the Senate will act swiftly to pass the bill and provide necessary protections for workers, students, and the public.