Bill Aiming to End Hair Discrimination Moves Forward

Legislation that will make it illegal for education administrators to discriminate against people because of their hair texture received the first step of becoming law when the Committee on Education and Workforce Development met Tuesday.

The committee received testimony on Bill 34-0147, an Act amending V.I. Code relating to discrimination on account of race to include discrimination on the basis of hair texture, and title 17 relating to education to enact “The Creating a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair Act”, or “The Virgin Islands Crown Act of 2021.” The bill is sponsored by Senators Alma Francis Heyliger and Genevieve Whitaker.

The measure generated some deliberations among senators with some objecting to the language. However, it was approved with four voting yes, two voting no and one absent (Senator Kenneth Gittens). It will now move on to the Committee on Rules and Judiciary.