Assembly passes equal rights ordinance

More than 70 rally in support of city law

Posted: August 22, 2016 - 10:27pm

By SAM DeGRAVE

JUNEAU EMPIRE

Discrimination based on race, color, age, religion, sex, familial status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression or national origin has no place in Juneau, according to the Assembly, which passed the city’s first anti-discrimination ordinance Monday night.

“This ordinance is well past due,” Assembly member Kate Troll said shortly before she and seven of her peers voted to add a new title on equal rights to city code.

The equal rights ordinance, which becomes effective in 30 days, will give Juneau residents a legal leg to stand on if they’ve been discriminated against by an employer, landlord or business owner.

State and federal law prohibit certain types of discrimination, but they fail to protect people from discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. Currently, anybody who is fired from a job or denied housing because of he or she is gay or transgender has no legal recourse.
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• Contact reporter Sam DeGrave at 523-2279 or sam.degrave@juneauempire.com