A. Purpose: All persons, regardless of sexual orientation and/or gender identity/expression should enjoy the full benefits of citizenship and be afforded equal opportunities for employment, housing, commercial property and the use of public accommodations. All persons, regardless of source of income, should be afforded equal opportunities for housing. Accordingly, the City has determined that discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, gender identity/expression and source of income must be addressed, and appropriate legislation be enacted.
B. Rights Of Individuals: It is hereby declared that every individual in the City has the right to work and earn wages through gainful employment, has the right to seek housing, and has the right to enjoy public accommodation and hospitality.
C. Public Policy: It is hereby declared to be the public policy of the City to foster the employment of all individuals in accordance with their abilities. Every individual has the right to work and earn wages through gainful employment. Discriminatory employment practices are detrimental because they impede the social and economic progress of a City by preventing all of the City citizens from contributing to the cultural, spiritual, social and commercial life of the community. The contributions of all the citizens of the City are essential to the City's growth, vitality and prosperity.
D. Intent: It is the intent of this chapter that all persons be treated fairly and equally, and it is the express intent of this chapter to guarantee fair and equal treatment under the law to all people in the City. The denial of fair and equal treatment under the law due to sexual orientation or gender identity/expression or source of income is detrimental to the health, safety and welfare of the City citizens and damages a City's economic well being.
E. Police Power: This chapter shall be deemed an exercise of the police power of the City for the protection of the public welfare, prosperity, health and peace of the City, its residents and the community.
F. Supplement To Law: The prohibitions against discriminatory acts as provided for in this chapter are intended to supplement State and Federal Civil Rights Law prohibiting discrimination in the areas of employment, public accommodations and housing. For complaints alleging discrimination on a basis proscribed under State or Federal law (e.g., race, color, religious creed, ancestry, age, sex, national origin and/or disability) the complainant is advised of his or her right to file a report alleging a violation of Idaho Code section 18-7301 et seq., and/or his or her right to file a complaint with the Idaho Commission on Human Rights and/or the Federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission pursuant to title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended, the Fair Housing Act of 1968, as amended, or the Americans With Disabilities Act of 1990, as amended. (1952 Code § 6-02-01; amd. Ord. 37-23, 9-26-2023, eff. 1-1-2024)