HARRISBURG, PA (WENY) -- In the US, one in five Black women in the workforce have been sent home because of their hair. That’s from a 2023 study by hygiene product company Dove.

Hair discrimination still exists— something Pennsylvania lawmakers want to address with The CROWN act.

Dozens of Representatives, business leaders, and community members flooded the capitol steps in Harrisburg today, advocating for a law that would ban hair discrimination in the workforce and schools.

CROWN stands for Creating a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair. Similar legislation has been passed in over 20 states. It prohibits organizations banning ‘protected hairstyles’ such as braids, locs, extensions, Bantu knots, and Afros.

Workplaces have opposed these hairstyles as unprofessional or not following the company’s definition of ’neat’. Student athletes have been asked to cut off their hairstyles without coaches providing a reason.

Tracey McCants Lewis, Chief People Officer for the Pittsburgh Penguins, described how changes in legislation must be matched with businesses- like her hockey organization- embracing differences.

“Some of these kids come in with braids, like me,” said Lewis, talking of a hockey camp the organization hosted on Martin Luther King Jr. Day. "We need to make sure we are taking safety measurements for their helmets that accommodate their braids.”

The CROWN act passed out of the Pennsylvania House last July with a large amount of bipartisan support (182-21). Today’s press conference called on the Senate to bring the bill up for a vote.