SENATORS HOPE TO END DISCRIMINATION BASED ON HAIR TEXTURE WITH NEW BILL

CHARLOTTE AMALIE — Senators hope to end discrimination based on hair texture after a new bill cleared a Senate hurdle.

Lawmakers comprising the 34th Legislature’s Committee on Rules and Judiciary took a “significant step” towards passing anti-discrimination legislation according to Senator Alma Francis Heyliger, who sponsored the proposal known as the Virgin Islands Crown Act (Bill No. 34-0147).

The Virgin Islands CROWN Act seeks to amend Title 10, chapter 1, sections 2 and 3 and Title 17, chapter 3 of the V.I. Code. Bill No. 0147 would create a legal association of a person’s hair texture to their race under the V.I. Code and prohibits employers and educational institutions from excluding individuals from participation based on natural hair texture. Protective styles used to maintain hair texture which is tightly coiled or tightly curled includes but are not limited to: braids, locks, twists, cornrows, bantu knots, Afros, and other styles.

“No type of discrimination should ever exist within our society,” Senator Francis Heyliger said on the Senate floor. “Especially when it comes to anything that is God-given.”

Senator Francis Heyliger expressed appreciation for the supporters of the Virgin Islands CROWN Act and the votes of her Senate colleagues. As the bill now moves forward to the full body of the Territory’s representatives, Sen. Francis Heyliger stated that she looks forward to the passage of the VI Crown Act.