Orange County Commissioner Linda Stewart is urging her fellow Commissioners to make the county’s Human Rights Ordinance consistent when protecting against discrimination, but she might be getting some pushback. In a memo dated March 19, Stewart requested a workshop discussing changes to the discrimination categories, stating: “It is important that we be consistent with everyone as well as show that Orange County will not discriminate against anyone who chooses to live, work and visit [here]. Housing, public accommodation and employment protection from discrimination is vital to our success.”
Steward said she frequently is approached by community members who have faced discriminatory practices based on sexuality, race or gender and are concerned that these protections are not already in place. She added the current HRO only covers Orange County employees, not the general public.
Stewart said she received no response to her request, so on March 29, she sent a follow-up memo.
“I’m roadblocked until I get an answer, and until I get an answer, I’m not sure how to interpret the unanswered memos,” she said.
If she doesn’t hear from the mayor by their meeting on April 6, she’ll make a motion placing her request on the agenda. If the mayor does not grant that request, Stewart said she has to make a motion, it has to be seconded, and then she needs four supporting votes before the workshop can move forward.
When asked why LGBTs should care about the ordinance’s current language, Stewart says, “In my opinion, until the ordinance is passed, LGBTs are being discriminated against.”
She believes changes to the ordinance are also crucial to the community at large.
“No big company will come here unless we rectify this,” Stewart said. “If we’re out there promoting jobs, we have to be open to making sure there is no discriminatory feeling out there toward anyone.”
She expressed her frustration with what she calls “baby steps.”
“I want the workshop to bring it all out on the table, all the things the LGBT community is concerned about, the African-American community, women, whoever,” she said.
A spokesperson for Mayor Richard Crotty’s office says they are in the process of preparing a response.
