Orlando, Florida -
Orange County commissioners voted Tuesday to add sexuality to the list of categories protected from workplace bias. The ordinance only affects county workers.
Orlando, the biggest city in the county, adopted a similar measure three years ago and later enacted anti-discrimination rules citywide.
Two of the area's biggest employers, Walt Disney and Universal also have non-discrimination clauses in their employment standards.
Orange county has about 6,500 county employees.
"This says that if you apply for a county job or you work for the county, the only thing we need to worry about is your qualifications," said County Administrator Ajit Lalchandani.
But, the measure stops short of offering medical and other benefits to live-in partners of gay employees. Those who live with straight employees can't receive benefits, either, unless they're married.
©365Gay.com® 2003
Orlando, the biggest city in the county, adopted a similar measure three years ago and later enacted anti-discrimination rules citywide.
Two of the area's biggest employers, Walt Disney and Universal also have non-discrimination clauses in their employment standards.
Orange county has about 6,500 county employees.
"This says that if you apply for a county job or you work for the county, the only thing we need to worry about is your qualifications," said County Administrator Ajit Lalchandani.
But, the measure stops short of offering medical and other benefits to live-in partners of gay employees. Those who live with straight employees can't receive benefits, either, unless they're married.
©365Gay.com® 2003
This article originally appeared on 365gay.com. Republished with permission.
