Scottsdale City Council votes to send letter to state for equal rights
Jan 14, 2018, 11:40 AM | Updated: 6:01 pm
(Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune via AP File)
(Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune via AP File)
PHOENIX — Scottsdale voted to send a letter asking Arizona legislature to update nondiscrimination laws to protect sexual orientation and gender identity rights in the workplace.
Council members voted 6-1 in favor of sending the letter to the state legislature.
According to the Scottsdale Independent, besides the progressive ethical reason for clarity on the civil rights issue, the other intent of the letter is to boost economic development efforts in the East Valley suburb by attracting top workforce talent.
Currently, gay and transgender people are not protected from being fired, discriminated against in housing or discriminated against by businesses in Arizona.
In the letter, Scottsdale City Council asked the Arizona legislature for clarity “to avoid inconsistencies and patchwork policies” in the state.
Scottsdale Councilwoman Virginia Korte voiced her opinion in a prepared statement.
“Scottsdale is a welcoming and inclusive city, and our statewide policies need to match our ethos, while also helping to improve our brand and competitiveness even more,” Korte said.
“This is a very positive step in the right direction, and is reflective of who we are,” Korte said.
Scottsdale is following a trend set by Phoenix, Tempe, Tucson, Flagstaff and Sedona, which all have similar laws banning discrimination on sexual orientation.
