Plano Extends Employment Protections to LGBT Workers
Amidst heated debate, Plano passed an amendment on December 8, 2014 to its 1989 non-discrimination ordinance to extend equal rights to residents regardless of sexual orientation, genetic information or gender identity in terms of public accommodations, employment, housing and city contracting. The city joins big brothers Dallas and Fort Worth in extending equal protection to the LGBT community, as well as other big cities like Houston.
The ordinance now prohibits discrimination based on race, color, sex, religion, age, national origin, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability status and U.S. military/veteran status. In response to the changes, opponents of equal rights submitted petitions to attempt to nullify the ordinance, but these petitions were thrown out on account of false information about bathrooms contained within, as well as a lack of several mandatory signature validation requirements as defined in state and local law.
LGBT employees in the private sector are not protected by Texas state law from discrimination. Until they are, city ordinances like the new Plano ordinance are an important tool in guaranteeing equal protection to LGBT employees.
If you have suffered discrimination at work based on your sexual orientation or gender identity, there are employment law attorneys out there who are willing to stand by your side and fight for your rights. No one should have to suffer because of who they love or who they are.
Atkerson Law – Dallas Employment Attorney
Did You Know? The first state to ban both public and private sector employment discrimination based on sexual orientation was Wisconsin in 1982.