(A) In addition to the existing protections previously adopted regarding race, religion, color, sex, national origin, ancestry, and disability, it is the policy of the city that it does not discriminate in the provision or implementation of its programs and services on the basis of sexual orientation, gender identity, or perception of same. It is the public policy of the city to provide all citizens equal opportunity for education, employment, access to public accommodations and acquisition through purchase or rental of real property, including, but not limited to: housing, and to eliminate segregation or separation based on sexual orientation, gender identity, or perception of same, since such segregation is an impediment to equal opportunity. Equal education and employment opportunities and equal access to and use of public accommodations and equal opportunity for acquisition of real property are hereby declared to be civil rights.
(B) The practice of denying these rights to persons because of sexual orientation, gender identity, or perception of same is contrary to the principles of freedom and equality of opportunity and is a burden to the objectives of the public policy of the city, and shall be considered as discriminatory practices. The promotion of equal opportunity without regard to sexual orientation, gender identity, or perception of same is the purpose of this section.
(C) It is also the public policy of the city to protect employers, labor organizations, employment agencies, property owners, real estate brokers, builders and lending institutions from unfounded charges of discrimination based upon sexual orientation, gender identity or perception of same.
(D) It is hereby declared to be contrary to the public policy of the city and an unlawful practice to induce or attempt to induce any person to sell or rent any dwelling by representations regarding the entry into the neighborhood of a person or persons of a particular, sexual orientation, gender identity, or perception of same, or to deny any such person service or accommodations at any business located in the city. Any business violating this section may be subject to license revocation pursuant to Ch. 119 of the Hammond Municipal Code.
(E) For purposes of this section, SEXUAL ORIENTATION means an individual's identity or practice as a lesbian woman, gay male, bisexual person or heterosexual person, whether actual or perceived.
(F) GENDER IDENTITY means a person's actual or perceived gender-related attributes, self-image, appearance, expression or behavior, whether or not such characteristics differ from those traditionally associated with the person's assigned sex at birth.
(G) The Hammond Human Relations Commission is empowered to investigate, conciliate, hear complaints, enter into consent decrees and seek judicial enforcement of its orders concerning any violations of this section.
(Ord. 9293, passed 4-13-2015)