Georgia Fair Employment Practices Bill Introduced
Georgia Equality Applauds Introduction of Georgia Fair Employment Practices Bill
Strong bi-partisan support for LGBT employment protections offer hope for passage
March 30, 2011 (Atlanta) Yesterday, Representative Karla Drenner (D-86) introduced the Georgia Fair Employment Practices Bill. House Bill 630 is cosponsored by a total of 70 members of the House of Representatives, including 57 Democrats, 12 Republicans and 1 Independent. This legislation would amend state labor laws to add safeguards from discrimination in public employment based on sexual orientation and gender identity. All 174,000 employees working for the State of Georgia would be protected from discriminatory hiring and firing practices. If the legislation passes, Georgia would join twenty-one states that protect public employees based on sexual orientation and twelve states that protect based on gender identity.
“Georgia state law currently provides no protections for LGBT people, resulting in unfair treatment and many costly lawsuits. The victorious case of transgender woman Vandy Beth Glenn who was wrongfully fired from her job at the Capitol is one example for the need for legislation to prevent these cases from coming up in the first place,” stated Georgia Equality executive director, Jeff Graham. Graham added, “While this legislation does not address private employment in Georgia, it would provide clear instructions to agencies, supervisors and employees to prevent discrimination in public employment and set the tone for the rest of the state’s business sector.”
Nationally, 87% of Fortune 500 companies already provide protections for their employees based on sexual orientation and 46% provide protections based on gender identity. Coca-Cola, UPS, Delta, Cox Communications, Lockheed Martin, Newell Rubbermaid and General Dynamics are among the leading corporations in Georgia who provide protections based on both sexual orientation and gender identity. Thirteen municipalities also offer some form of employment protection for LGBT employees.
Rep. Drenner, a member of the House Special Committee on Small Business Development and Jobs Creation commented, “Treating LGBT employees fairly is simply better for business. The Georgia Fair Employment Practices legislation would also ensure that Georgia State Colleges and Universities are competitive with major research institutions in attracting and retaining the best and brightest researchers, students and administrators to study, work and develop new products, industries and jobs in Georgia.”
Adding sexual orientation and gender identity to the list of categories for which employees cannot be discriminated against is supported by 76% of Georgia voters with little variance across personal, political or geographic demographic groups.
Drenner commented that the introduction of this bill so late in the session was a strategic decision. “We knew we wouldn't have a hearing this year with a budget crisis and a new governor, so our introduction at this point in the session gives us a bill with a number and nearly a year to find the 21 additional votes to pass the House. We won't have any other action this session and instead we will seek to move it next year when we know we have committee support and are closer to the 91 votes we need.”
She added, “A lot of thanks goes to the bi-partisan first six signers - Reps. Mike Jacobs, Stacey Abrams, Rusty Kidd, Simone Bell and Wendell Willard. We hope their constituents will let them know how much we appreciate their leadership on this bill.”
Georgia Equality is encouraging all of their supporters to contact their legislators and thank those who have already cosponsored this legislation and to encourage those who have not yet signed on to pledge their support for the bill as it begins to move through the legislative process.
Graham went on to say, “The initial response has been great. However, we still have a lot to do to educate members, thank supporters and mobilize support on the Senate side; but, we originally hoped for 50 sponsors and got 70, which gives us great momentum moving forward.” He finished by adding, “We realize that it may take several years to pass this legislation. This will certainly be a community-wide effort that will take everyone’s energy to be successful. However, we know that the people of Georgia hold fairness and the right to be judged by your abilities as a core value and we look forward to the day when this legislation will pass.”
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