Rep. Porter, Sen. Kishner And YWCA Advocate For C.R.O.W.N. Act

Hamden CT

11 February, 2021

12:33 PM

Description

Press release from the House Democrats Office: Feb. 11, 2021 Just before the legislation was raised in a public hearing this morning, the co-chairs of the Labor Committee, Rep. Robyn Porter (D- Hamden, New Haven) and Sen. Julie Kushner (D-Danbury) advocated for the passage of the C.R.O.W.N. Act, which would prohibit discrimination based on the adoption of ethnic hairstyles. They were joined by community leaders including Adrienne Cochrane, CEO of YWCA Hartford Region, Melinda Johnson, Director of Community Engagement and Advocacy at YWCA Greater Hartford Region, Christina Jackson, student, and member of YWCA Hartford Region's Young Women's Leadership Corps program, Adjoa B. Asamoah, ABA Consulting, and CROWN Act Champion Social Impact Strategist Racial Equity Advancer, and Timothy Fraylon of Urban League Greater Hartford. The C.R.O.W.N. Act, House Bill 6376, if passed would prohibit discrimination on the basis of ethnic hairstyles historically associated with race. Specifically, it would add two additional qualifiers to current legislation preventing discrimination, noting that "race" is inclusive of traits historically associated with race like hair texture and protective hairstyles and those hairstyles can include braids, locs and twists. This bill is being introduced by co-chairs of the Labor Committee, Rep. Porter and Sen. Kushner. Currently, 80 percent of Black women feel that they have to change their natural hair to fit in at the workplace. H.B. 6376 will ensure that women are able to express themselves and that Black culture is both respected and valued within the workplace. This legislation explicitly dictates that discrimination based on hair textures or hairstyles will not be tolerated in Connecticut. Studies show Black women's hair is 3.4 times as likely to be called "unprofessional" compared to white women's hair; Black women are also 50 percent more likely to have been sent home from the workforce due to their hair. "The way Black women, men, and children choose to wear their hair is culturally consequential and has no bearing on our ability to perform professionally, academically or otherwise," said Rep. Porter. "Nonetheless, we have been and continue to be subjected to discrimination based on our ethnic hairstyles and textures. For this reason, we are again introducing this legislation to eliminate the ability for discrimination based on these grounds. After listening to 13-year-old Christina Jackson speak truth to power at this morning's press conference, I am reminded that we are also doing this to send a message to our precious children that they are phenomenally and uniquely made, from the sacred C.R.O.W.N. of their heads to the soles of their feet, and that they are beautiful just the way they are!" "When Black women are 80 percent more likely to change their natural hair to fit in among an office setting, it is clear we must continue to fight discrimination," said Sen. Kushner. "No one should be forced to change their natural appearance, yet 6 of 7 Black women report being judged on their looks more harshly than other women. This is a clear opportunity to address workplace discrimination and prevent anyone being told their natural bodies aren't good enough." "For far too long, Black women and girls have felt the sting and pressure to conform to straightening their hair in order to meet expectations in the workplace and in school," said Adrienne W. Cochrane, CEO of YWCA Hartford Region. "We are proud to support passage of House Bill 6376. To be clear, the CROWN Act legislation is not about hair. It is about acknowledging and protecting the personal rights of every man, woman, and child to be true to themselves…regardless of gender or race." In testimony submitted to the Labor and Public Employees Committee, Johnson advocated for the C.R.O.W.N. Act, which "not only puts an end to discrimination of people of color based on their hair texture or ethnic hairstyle but affirms that the identity of Black and Brown people must be accepted in mainstream culture, not just tolerated as an alternative." This bill was raised in the Labor Committee Public Hearing immediately after legislators advocated in favor of it. Following the public hearing, the Labor Committee will vote on the legislation. If the vote is favorable, the bill will move forward to the house floor. This press release was produced by the House Democrats Office. The views expressed here are the author's own.