It is the intent of the City that no person be denied equal protection of the laws; nor shall any person be denied the enjoyment of his or her civil or political rights or be discriminated against because of actual or perceived race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, height, weight, condition of pregnancy, marital status, physical or mental limitation, source of income, family responsibilities, sexual orientation, gender identity or HIV status.
As used in this chapter, the following words and phrases shall have the following meaning:
DISCRIMINATE To make a decision, offer to make a decision, or refrain from making a decision, based in whole or in part on the actual or perceived race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, height, weight, condition of pregnancy, marital status, physical or mental limitation, source of income, family responsibilities, sexual orientation, gender identity, or HIV status of another person, that person's relatives, or that person's associates. Discrimination based on sex includes sexual harassment, which means unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal or physical conduct or communication of a sexual nature when: a) submission to such conduct or communication is, either explicitly or implicitly, made a term or condition of obtaining employment, public accommodations, or housing; b) submission to or rejection of such conduct or communication by an individual is used as a factor in decisions affecting such individual's employment, public accommodations or housing; and/or c) such conduct or communication has the purpose or effect of substantially interfering with an individual's employment, public accommodations or housing, or creating an intimidating, hostile, or offensive employment, public accommodations, or housing environment. Discrimination based upon actual or perceived physical or mental limitation includes discrimination because of the use of adaptive devices or aids by an individual.
FAMILY RESPONSIBILITIES The state of being or the potential to become a contributor to the support of a person or persons in a family relationship.
GENDER IDENTITY A person's actual or perceived gender, including a person's gender identity, self-image, appearance, expression, or behavior, whether or not that gender identity, self-image, appearance, expression, or behavior is different from that traditionally associated with the person's sex at birth as being either female or male.
HIV STATUS The physical condition of a person who has, or has been diagnosed as having been infected with, the human immunodeficiency virus, whether or not that person has or has been diagnosed as having acquired immunodeficiency syndrome or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome related complex.
HOUSING FACILITY Any dwelling unit or facility used for a person to regularly sleep and keep personal belongings including, but not limited to, a house, apartment, rooming house, housing cooperative, hotel, motel, tourist home, retirement home or nursing home.
MARITAL STATUS The state of being married, unmarried, divorced, or widowed.
MENTAL LIMITATION A limitation of mental capabilities unrelated to one's ability to safely perform the work involved in jobs or positions available to such person for hire or promotion; a limitation of mental capabilities unrelated to one's ability to acquire, rent and maintain property; or a limitation of mental capabilities unrelated to one's ability to utilize and benefit from the goods, services, activities, privileges and accommodations of a place of public accommodation. "Mental limitation" includes, but is not limited to, developmental and psychological disabilities. "Mental limitation" does not include any condition caused by the current use of alcohol or the current illegal use of a controlled substance.
PERCEIVED The perception of the person who acts, and not the perception of the person for or against whom the action is taken.
PHYSICAL LIMITATION A limitation of physical capabilities unrelated to one's ability to safely perform the work involved in jobs or positions available to such person for hire or promotion; a limitation of physical capabilities unrelated to one's ability to acquire, rent and maintain property; or a limitation of physical capabilities unrelated to one's ability to utilize and benefit from the goods, services, activities, privileges and accommodations of a place of public accommodation. "Physical limitation" includes, but is not limited to, blindness or partial sightedness, deafness or hearing impairment, muteness, partial or total absence of physical member, speech impairment and motor impairment. "Physical limitation" does not include any condition caused by the current use of alcohol or the current illegal use of a controlled substance.
PLACE OF PUBLIC ACCOMMODATION An educational, governmental, health, day care, entertainment, cultural, recreational, refreshment, transportation, financial institution, accommodation, business or other facility of any kind, whose goods, services, facilities, privileges, advantages or accommodations are extended, offered, sold or otherwise made available to the public, or which receives financial support through the solicitation of the general public or through governmental subsidy of any kind.
SEXUAL ORIENTATION Male or female homosexuality, heterosexuality, or bisexuality, by orientation or practice.
No person shall discriminate in making available full and equal access to all goods, services, activities, privileges and accommodations of any place of public accommodation. No person shall prohibit a breastfeeding mother from or segregate a breastfeeding mother within any public accommodation where she and the child would otherwise be authorized to be.
No person shall provide false information to any police officer investigating an alleged violation of this chapter.
In cases involving alleged violations of this chapter, the City may enter into agreements whereby persons agree to methods of terminating discrimination or to reverse the effects of past discrimination. A violation of such an agreement shall be a violation of this chapter. The City Attorney may commence a civil action to enforce a conciliation agreement.
No person shall adopt, enforce or employ any policy or requirement which has the effect of creating unequal opportunities according to actual or perceived race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, height, weight, condition of pregnancy, source of income, family responsibilities, sexual orientation, marital status, physical or mental limitation, gender identity or HIV status for a person to obtain housing, employment or public accommodation, except for a bona fide business necessity. Such a necessity does not arise due to a mere inconvenience or because of suspected or actual objection to such a person by neighbors, customers, or other persons.
Notwithstanding anything contained in this chapter, the following practices shall not be violations of this chapter:
A. For a religious organization or institution to restrict any of its facilities of housing or accommodations which are operated as a direct part of religious activities to persons of the denomination involved or to restrict employment opportunities for officers, religious instructors and clergy to persons of that denomination.
B. For the owner of an owner-occupied one-family or two-family dwelling, or a housing facility or public accommodation facility, respectively, devoted entirely to the housing and accommodation of individuals of one sex, to restrict occupancy and use on the basis of sex.
C. To limit occupancy in a housing project or to provide public accommodations or employment privileges or assistance to persons of low income, over 55 years of age, or who are handicapped.
D. To engage in a bona fide effort to establish an affirmative action program to improve opportunities in employment for minorities and women.
E. To discriminate based on a person's age when such discrimination is required by state, federal or local law.
F. To refuse to enter a contract with an unemancipated minor.
G. To refuse to admit to a place of public accommodation serving alcoholic beverages a person under the legal age for purchasing alcoholic beverages.
H. To refuse to admit persons under 18 years of age to a business providing entertainment or selling literature which the operator of said business deems unsuitable for minors.
I. For an educational institution to limit the use of its facilities to those affiliated with such institution.
J. To provide discounts on products or service to students, minors and senior citizens.
K. To discriminate in any arrangement for the sharing of a dwelling unit.
L. To restrict use of lavatories and locker room facilities on the basis of sex.
M. For a governmental institution to restrict any of its facilities or to restrict employment opportunities based on duly adopted institutional policies that conform to federal and state laws and regulations.
N. To restrict participation in an instructional program, athletic event or on an athletic team on the basis of age or sex.