(a) The practice or policy of discrimination against individuals or groups by reason of their race, color, familial status, religious creed, ancestry, age, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identification, hairstyles and protective and cultural hair textures and hairstyles, disability, use of guide or support animals because of the disability of the user or because the user is a handler or trainer of support or guide animals is a matter of concern of the City. Such discrimination foments domestic strife and unrest, threatens the rights and privileges of the inhabitants of the City, and undermines the foundations of a free democratic society.
The denial of equal employment, housing and public accommodation opportunities because of such discrimination, and the consequent failure to utilize the productive capacities of individuals to their fullest extent, deprives large segments of the population of the City of earnings necessary to maintain decent standards of living, necessitates a resort to public relief and intensifies group conflicts, thereby resulting in grave injury to the public health and welfare, compels many individuals to live in dwellings which are substandard, unhealthy and overcrowded, resulting in racial segregation in public schools and other community facilities, juvenile delinquency and other evils, hereby threatening the peace, health, safety and general welfare of the City and its inhabitants.
(b) It is hereby declared to be the public policy of this City to foster the employment of all individuals in accordance with their fullest capacities regardless of their race, color, religious creed, ancestry, age, familial status, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identification, hairstyles and protective and cultural hair textures and hairstyles, disability, use of guide or support animals because of the disability of the user or because the user is a handler or trainer of support or guide animals, and to safeguard rights to obtain and hold employment without such discrimination, to assure equal opportunities to all individuals and to safeguard rights to public accommodation and to secure housing accommodation and commercial property regardless of race, color, familial status, religious creed, ancestry, age, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identification, hairstyles and protective and cultural hair textures and hairstyles, disability, use of guide or support animals because of the disability of the user or because the user is a handler or trainer of guide or support animals.
(c) This article shall be deemed an exercise of the powers granted to the City under applicable State and Federal laws for the protection of the public welfare, prosperity, health and peace of the people of the City of York. The provisions of this article shall be construed liberally for the accomplishment of the purposes therein.
(Ord. 32-2022. Passed 5-18-22.)