READING, Pa.: Earlier this week, Met-Ed became Berks County’s largest corporate signer of a statement supporting equality in Pennsylvania, indicating leadership support to Pennsylvania’s non-discrimination laws and to ensure protection and support of LGBTQ+ Pennsylvanians in the workplace and beyond.
“Met-Ed is showing true leadership in our area and in their industry,” said Michelle Dech, Executive Director of the LGBT Center of Greater Reading, the organization that originated and sponsors the statement. “This is a moment to celebrate, and we applaud them for demonstrating that they are a people-focused organization. They are paving the way for other businesses and organizations in Berks.”
“Met-Ed and FirstEnergy hold diversity and inclusion as a core value. We recognize the importance of supporting efforts throughout the Commonwealth in upholding those values. We encourage other organizations to stand with us and the LGTBQ+ Center of Reading in support of the non-discrimination laws and valuing all people including the LGBTQ+ Pennsylvanians in that process,” said Linda Moss, President of Met-Ed.
The statement includes language indicating full support of nondiscrimination practices and of Pennsylvania’s LGBTQ+ employees and their families. It also seeks to build a stronger, safer community, which will better support a growing economy by attracting, retaining, and developing talent from many backgrounds to work in Pennsylvania. The Human Rights Campaign and other sources have long publicized that many Fortune 500 companies seek out inclusive communities and cities for expansion opportunities, as the inclusion of all people helps support a more diverse workforce and provides a higher quality of life for all employees. The LGBT Center of Greater Berks is actively working with other local businesses and organizations to sign the statement and build a coalition for equality.
“The support of our local businesses helps us create a bigger groundswell to influence legislation,” said Dech. “The city of Reading is the only municipality in our area that adopted a non-discrimination ordinance to make it illegal for businesses to discriminate against members of the LGBTQ+ community. That must change, and corporate leaders will be critical in helping us make that change. We know that Met-Ed will be the first of many companies who are willing to stand strong in their values.”
To read the full statement, visit www.lgbtcenterofreading.com. To become a commercial or civic signer, contact [email protected].
About the LGBT Center of Greater Reading
The LGBT Center of Greater Reading provides support, advocacy, and resources to the Greater Reading LGBTQ+ Community and its allies. The LGBT Center of Greater Reading is registered as a 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization. Its vision is to be the leading expert resource to the LGBTQ+ community and allies for advocacy, support, services and fellowship on every aspect of the quality of life continuum.
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