HONOLULU – Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi on Wednesday hosted City officials and a variety of community groups dedicated to diversity, equity and inclusion efforts for a ceremony in which Bill 32, which updates the City’s non-discrimination policy, was signed into law. The City’s non-discrimination policy prohibits discrimination in the hiring and employment of City and County of Honolulu employees, as well as in the provision of City services.
Bill 32, which adds a number of new protections to the existing non-discrimination policy, passed a third reading of the Honolulu City Council on October 7. The measure brings the City policy into alignment with protections from discrimination under existing state and federal law.
“We recognize the incredible importance of a workplace in which all employees feel valued and respected, and the City’s new non-discrimination policy fosters inclusivity in a way our workplace, and our island, deserve,” said Mayor Rick Blangiardi. “We are grateful to the members of the Honolulu City Council for passing Bill 32 and supporting our efforts to create a more diverse workplace, which has a tangible and significant effort on hiring, retention and overall morale.”
While the City’s existing non-discrimination policy included protections for discrimination against race, sex, sexual orientation, age, religion or marital status, Bill 32 added protections for the following categories:
- citizenship
- ethnicity
- disability
- credit history or credit report
- domestic or sexual violence victim status
- gender identity or expression
- transgender status
- genetic information or refusal to submit to a genetic test
- income assignment for child support
- military or veteran status
- national guard or military reserve participation
- national origin
- politics
- pregnancy status
- limitations related to pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions;
- reproductive health decisions
- breastfeeding or expressing breast milk at work
In addition to community groups, including the Hawaiʻi LGBT Legacy Foundation and the Hawaiʻi Health and Harm Reduction Center, Wednesday’s bill signing ceremony was also attended by members of the City’s Rainbow Employee Resource Group, which was formed earlier this year to provide an officially recognized space for LGBTQ+ members of the City and County of Honolulu workforce better foster an inclusive culture in our City organization.
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