Gay, Transgender Ordinance Headed to Vote in Burlington
by Jeff Abell, The Hawk Eye
“In order to be progressive, we need to have [specific forms of discrimination listed] in our code.”–Bev Hunter, Burlington's human resource director
Despite being safeguarded under Iowa law, the Burlington Human Rights Commission believes language should be added to the city code that would list sexual orientation and gender identification as protected classes.
Councilman Matt Murray . . . argued the council should . . . take a stand against all forms of discrimination. “What are you afraid of?” Murray asked the council. “No one should have to face discrimination here in Burlington.”
Bev Hunter, the city's human resource director and a member of the human rights commission, said listing each [form of discrimination] individually is necessary to put businesses and individuals on notice that Burlington embraces diversity.
“This is as much an economic development issue as it is a community issue. These Fortune 500 companies look at how a town embraces diversity,” she said. “In order to be progressive, we need to have this in our code.”
Next week, the council will set a date during regular session to vote on the matter.
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