Public commenters urge York City HRC to pursue Human Rights Campaign Municipal Equality Index and push council on bias ordinance

Matthew Jackson, a York County resident and social justice ambassador, told the York City Human Relations Commission that the city should voluntarily submit to the Human Rights Campaign’s Municipal Equality Index (MEI). Jackson said York City already has protections including a local conversion therapy ban and that participation would identify gaps, boost the city’s profile and support economic development. “Doing the right thing for human rights is also the smart thing for community and economic development,” Jackson said, and offered the Valley’s volunteer help compiling documentation for the audit.

Frankz, who also identified as Regina Holiday and said they serve as the 2025 York Pride Ambassador for Rainbow Rose Center, told commissioners that MEI participation is voluntary, requires no city financial commitment and mainly involves gathering existing policies and documentation. “Participation in the Human Rights Campaign municipal equality index also has an incredibly practical [benefit] for the city of York because it does not require financial investment from the city,” Frankz said.

Several local residents and leaders echoed those points. Robert Godfrey, owner of the Handsome Cab and an LGBTQ+-owned business, urged the commission to support the initiative and said some locally available minority-targeted grants currently exclude LGBTQ+ businesses. Ryan Supler, a York City resident who spoke for three priorities, urged the commission to (1) formally endorse full city participation in the MEI by adopting a resolution, (2) reaffirm support for the proposed bias-motivated conduct ordinance (Article 703) after council tabled it at the mayor’s request, and (3) back updates to Article 185 that govern the commission, including gender-neutral language and a transition provision.

Other public speakers included Nova Copeland, representing the Unitarian Universalist Social Justice Committee and Plum Village Buddhist Sanga, who said personal and organizational commitments to equality motivated support; Mike Johnson, a former commission chair, who urged the HRC to reaffirm support for Article 703; and Samantha Graham, a longtime downtown resident, who praised local acceptance and urged action. James Tomkins and David Clover gave additional testimony about continued need for protections and one recent negative experience with police follow-up, respectively.

Commissioners did not take a formal vote on MEI participation or send an immediate resolution to council during the meeting. Multiple speakers offered to help gather materials and to assist staff in completing the MEI audit process if the commission and city elect to proceed. The chair asked staff to collect background information on the Human Rights Campaign index for future discussion.

The commission’s next procedural steps were not scheduled during the meeting; staff said they would gather background materials to bring the topic back for potential action at a later date.