CROWN Act shields locs, braids, and twists from discrimination at local schools, resorts, and employers starting January 24

Monroe County, PA — When Governor Josh Shapiro signed the CROWN Act into law on November 25th, the protections extended far beyond Philadelphia and Pittsburgh. For the more than 21,000 Black residents of Monroe County — and workers and students of all backgrounds across the Poconos — the law establishes clear boundaries against a form of discrimination that has quietly shaped career decisions and school experiences for generations.

The CROWN Act takes effect January 24, 2026. It bans discrimination based on hair texture and protective hairstyles at every workplace and school in the Commonwealth — from the classrooms of Pocono Mountain and East Stroudsburg school districts to the front desks of Camelback and Kalahari, from St. Luke’s Monroe Campus to Tobyhanna Army Depot.

Monroe County is among the most diverse in northeastern Pennsylvania, with Black residents making up 13 percent of the population — above the statewide average. The Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission documented 916 complaints statewide in 2022 alone involving hair-based racial discrimination: job offers rescinded, students suspended for braids, workers told their natural hair was “unprofessional.”

What the Law Does

The CROWN Act expands the legal definition of “race” to include hair texture and protective hairstyles — locs, braids, twists, coils, Bantu knots, afros, and extensions. Any employer or school that discriminates against someone for wearing these styles now violates state civil rights law.

Local employers — Sanofi Pasteur, St. Luke’s, Tobyhanna, the Pocono resorts — must ensure their grooming policies don’t single out natural hairstyles. The law still allows legitimate safety standards (hairnets in kitchens, hygiene protocols in hospitals), but prohibits treating natural Black hairstyles as inherently less professional.

School districts face similar requirements. Administrators at Pocono Mountain, East Stroudsburg, Stroudsburg, and Pleasant Valley should review student handbooks before January.

The Health Stakes

The law carries weight beyond civil rights. Chemical hair relaxers have been linked to serious health risks in peer-reviewed research. A 2022 NIH study found women using chemical straighteners more than four times yearly were twice as likely to develop uterine cancer. Boston University research tracking 45,000 Black women found regular relaxer use increased uterine cancer risk by more than 50 percent.

“With an undeniable correlation between the use of chemical relaxers and the increased likelihood of developing uterine fibroids and cancer — the cost of conformity is simply too expensive,” said Dr. Adjoa B. Asamoah, the national CROWN Act advocate, at the signing ceremony.

How to File a Complaint

Monroe County residents who experience hair discrimination have 180 days to file a complaint with the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission. The process is free and doesn’t require an attorney. Retaliation against complainants is prohibited.

The bill passed with bipartisan support — 194-8 in the House, 44-3 in the Senate — after a seven-year effort. Pennsylvania joins all neighboring states in enacting CROWN Act protections.

Contact the PA Human Relations Commission: (717) 787-4410 | phrc.pa.gov