Why Gov. Josh Shapiro Appointed Ex-GOP Rep. Seth Grove To Pennsylvania's Civil Rights Commission

Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro has appointed former Republican state representative Seth Grove to the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission (PHRC), the state agency charged with investigating and enforcing anti-discrimination laws in employment, housing, education and public accommodations.

Grove, who represented part of York County in the Pennsylvania House for 17 years, was announced July 14 as one of seven new commissioners and is scheduled to be sworn in on Monday. His selection places a former legislator with a record of opposing transgender rights and seeking limits on civil-rights enforcement inside the agency that handles discrimination complaints from LGBTQ+ Pennsylvanians.

Shapiro's Explanation

Shapiro's office defended the appointment by pointing to a statutory requirement for partisan balance on the PHRC. "The PA Human Relations Act legally requires that no more than six commissioners belong to the same political party," spokesperson Rosie Lapowsky told The Advocate. She noted that nominees must be confirmed by a majority vote in the state Senate and described the appointment process as collaborative between the governor's office and the Senate. The statement reiterated the governor's commitment to protecting the rights and freedoms of every LGBTQ+ Pennsylvanian.

The administration also highlighted actions Shapiro has taken to support LGBTQ+ people, including joining lawsuits opposing Trump-era limits on gender-affirming care, supporting efforts to limit federal subpoenas for transgender patients' medical records, directing tailored training for Pennsylvania's 988 crisis centers, urging lawmakers to pass the Fairness Act, advocating to expand the state's hate-crimes law, and past work as attorney general defending transgender service members and students.

Why Critics Are Concerned

Critics say Grove's legislative record raises serious questions about whether he is suited to help oversee the PHRC, which not only issues guidance but investigates complaints, sets policy, and determines whether discrimination occurred. The commission has interpreted Pennsylvania's Human Relations Act—which does not explicitly list sexual orientation or gender identity—as prohibiting sex discrimination that includes both categories. That makes the commission's composition consequential for LGBTQ+ Pennsylvanians.

During his legislative tenure, Grove cosponsored multiple bills and introduced proposals that opponents say restrict transgender rights and weaken civil-rights enforcement:

• House Bill 1933 (2017): Cosponsored by Grove; would have barred Medicaid and CHIP from covering transition-related services, including surgery. The bill did not become law.
• House Bill 581 (2025): Cosponsored; the "Parental Rights in Education Act" would have limited classroom instruction on sexual orientation and gender identity, required parental notification for certain student health services, and allowed families to sue school districts. Advocates compared aspects of it to policies like Florida's "Don't Say Gay" law.
• Efforts to Limit PHRC Authority (2022): In a May 2022 letter to the Independent Regulatory Review Commission, Grove urged regulators to reject a PHRC rule defining sex discrimination to include sexual orientation and gender identity, arguing regulators were expanding the law by rule rather than through the legislature.
• Proposals to Alter Civil-Rights Enforcement (2023, 2025): Grove sponsored House Bill 1435 (2023) and reintroduced similar language as House Bill 245 (2025), measures that would have changed how discrimination complaints are handled, created reimbursement for some claims, and repealed or restricted local human relations commissions. Neither bill advanced.

Local advocates and former commission members voiced alarm. Jim Sheppard, a former member of Pittsburgh's local Human Relations Commission, wrote that Grove's record "raises serious questions about whether he is the right person to help guide Pennsylvania's premier civil rights agency," citing his opposition to local LGBTQ-inclusive nondiscrimination protections and gender-neutral parental language on birth certificates.

PHRC Announcement And Next Steps

The PHRC's July 14 announcement identified Grove as president and CEO of the Pennsylvania Aggregates and Concrete Association and said the new commissioners will bring expertise the agency described as promoting "accountability, fairness, service to Pennsylvanians, and institutional improvement." Interim commission Chair Curtis Jones Jr. said he looked forward to working with the slate to strengthen the PHRC and ensure equitable treatment for all Pennsylvanians.

Observers note the governor's office did not publicly explain why Grove was chosen specifically, whether the administration reviewed his record on transgender rights and civil-rights enforcement, or whether Grove provided assurances that he will uphold the PHRC's existing protections for LGBTQ+ people.

Bottom line: The appointment highlights a tension between legal partisan requirements for the PHRC and concerns about placing a former lawmaker with a record of opposing transgender protections on the state body charged with enforcing nondiscrimination protections.