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Oregon city unanimously approves discrimination ban

Oregon city unanimously approves discrimination ban
New law will protect Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender residents from discrimination in housing, employment and more PORTLAND, OR - The City of Hillsboro in Oregon Tuesday evening unanimously approved a city-wide ban on discrimination in housing, employment, public accommodation on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity after hearing public testimony from faith leaders, business owners and the GLBT community in support of the legislation. The unanimous vote followed months of grassroots organizing work by Hillsboro activists affiliated with Basic Rights Oregon to lobby the Hillsboro city council and build community support for the new law. "With this vote Hillsboro has affirmed that our communities are strengthened when each of our citizens are treated fairly under the law no matter where they work, live or travel," said Basic Rights Oregon Interim Executive Director Frank Dixon. "Basic Rights Oregon is particularly grateful for the tremendous leadership of Mayor Tom Hughes and City Councilor Ed Dennis whose commitment to equality made this vote possible." In enacting such a law, the City of Hillsboro has joined two Oregon counties and eight cities that have enacted similar laws: Multnomah County, Benton County, Salem, Portland, Beaverton, Bend, Ashland, Lake Oswego, Eugene and Lincoln City. People all across Oregon continue to experience pervasive discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity in housing, employment, health care, education, and everyday life. Often those who experience discrimination are reluctant to come forward because without laws to protect or enforce their basic rights, they are vulnerable to retaliation, harassment and violence which can create emotional hardships and interfere with their ability to adequately provide for themselves and their families. "While tonight's vote is a win for equality, we still have work to do," said Dixon. "In most of the state a person can be fired from a job, denied a home or turned away from a table in a restaurant simply because they are Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual or Transgender. ." Basic Rights Oregon is Oregon's statewide organization dedicated to ending discrimination in Oregon.