Nondiscrimination ordinance introduced in Shelby County

If you saw today's Commercial Appeal, I hope you noticed this story about the nondiscrimination ordinance that is being proposed in Shelby County. It protects people from discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity/expression in county employment, county services, and covers employers that contract with the county as well as businesses in unincorporated parts of Shelby County.

Commissioner Steve Mulroy is sponsoring the legislation. The Commercial Appeal notes:

Mulroy, a University of Memphis law professor who is married with two children, said he sponsored the ordinance after speaking with members of the Tennessee Equality Project, an advocacy group for gays, lesbians and transgender people that's pushing for a similar measure in Nashville.

"It helps to eliminate the fear of being terminated just based on sexual orientation or gender identity and expression," said Daniel Forrest, a TEP board member.

Forrest also said such a policy would also help attract talented people to the area. His group handed out a long list of businesses, such as FedEx Corp., that already have similar anti-discrimination policies.

Federal law prohibits employment discrimination on the basis of disability, national origin, race/color, gender and pregnancy. It also bans discrimination against those 40 or older.

But it doesn't prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation, and Shelby County's policies are based on federal law, county attorney Brian Kuhn said.

There is no law about sexual orientation at the state level, either.

This would be a big step for Shelby County and for Tennessee. If any of you would like to help, please, be in touch with the TEP Shelby County Committee at shelbycounty@tnequalityproject.com .