“There should not be a reason for anyone to feel unwelcome at the Senate,” said Sen. Katie Hobbs
By Howard Fischer | Capitol Media Services via Arizona Capitol Times
A move by Senate leadership to update the chamber’s harassment policy is provoking some criticism over what is not included.
The comprehensive new policy, the first update since 2005, details the kinds of conduct that is considered unacceptable. That covers not just face-to-face sexual harassment but anything else that would be considered creating a hostile work environment.
For example, it would be a violation to post cartoons, pictures or calendars containing anything that could be considered a slur based on an individual’s face, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, national origin, age or disability.
And it even covers sexual orientation.
But Senate Minority Leader Katie Hobbs said it doesn’t go far enough in one respect: It does not extend similar protections based on “gender identity.”
