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Omaha World-Herald
Proposal Would Expand Rights Law by staff writer, Ross Boettcher

City Councilman Ben Gray has proposed changing Omaha’s ordinances against discrimination to include sexual orientation, gender expression and gender identity.

The proposed changes will be the subject of a public hearing Tuesday before the City Council. Gray said he asked for the changes because they are “currently not part of the ordinance, and there have been instances of people being discriminated against.” They would be the first changes to the city’s human rights ordinances in more than 10 years, said Assistant City Attorney Bernard in den Bosch.

The changes would affect employers, employment agencies and labor organizations and apply to every contract the city agrees to, in den Bosch said.

According to draft language, the ordinance would not require employers to provide employment benefits to same-sex partners. If passed by the council, these categories would be included in the city’s anti-discrimination ordinances:

• Gender expression, “the non-physical, outward projection of masculinity or femininity to others.’’

• Gender identity, “the inward manifestation or self-perception a person has of his or her gender.”

• Sexual orientation, “an enduring pattern of emotional, romantic, and/or sexual attraction to men, women, or both sexes.”

These would join race, color, creed, religion, sex, marital status, national origin, age and disability in the city’s anti-discrimination prohibitions, Gray said.

Omaha’s First Central Congregational Church sent a letter of support for the changes to council members.

In den Bosch said he expects the proposal to draw criticism. “It wouldn’t surprise me if there were people concerned about it,” he said. “I suspect there will be questions about the definitions as much as about what it means.” There have been “four or five” complaints filed with the city over the past couple of years that would fall under the categories in Gray’s proposal, he said.

The council will meet at 2 p.m. Tuesday in the legislative chambers of the City-County Building, 1819 Farnam Street.

Source: Omaha World-Herald
Contact the writer:
444-1414, ross.boettcher@owh.com