From Mayor John Giles: “Last night, the Mesa City Council passed a non-discrimination ordinance that demonstrates a commitment to equality and diversity in our city. Thank you to everyone who participated in this process. This is an important step forward for Mesa.”
By Mike Sunnucks | Rose Law Group Reporter
The City of Mesa has approved a new non-discrimination ordinance adding sexual orientation and gender identity to protected classes along with race, color, gender, religion, ethnicity, marital status and other categories.
The ordinance offers protections from housing, employment and public accommodation discrimination.
The Mesa City Council approved the new non-discrimination ordinance at its March 1 meeting.
“Mesa’s non-discrimination ordinance demonstrates our commitment to respecting and supporting equality and diversity in our city,” said Mesa Mayor John Giles. “I appreciate all of the input and robust community discussions that have informed the process and allowed us to take this important step forward.”
The city started the process toward the anti-discrimination ordinance in 2014.
Mesa joins Phoenix, Tucson, Flagstaff, Tempe, Winslow and Sedona with non-discrimination ordinance. The Mesa Chamber of Commerce and Visit Mesa were among the groups endorsing the measure
It does not apply to religious corporations and organizations, public schools, religious schools and charter schools. Nor does the Mesa ordinance apply to single-sex designated areas of a place of public accommodation or single-sex sports and recreational leagues and programs.
The new ordinance takes effect June 29.
