Resources

Equality Ordinances in Texas and Beyond

LGBTQ Discrimination in Texas: a timeline and list of other Texas municipalities that have sought to protect their residents from unfair treatment.

The Dallas Non-Discrimination Ordinance

The Fort Worth Non-Discrimination Ordinance

Austin Non-Discrimination Ordinance and the Austin Human Rights Commission

Plano Equal Rights Ordinance

Comprehensive Map of Non-Discrimination Laws and Ordinances across the US. As of January 2020, there are 20 states, Washington D.C. (see state nondiscrimination laws here), and at least 295 municipalities (see local nondiscrimination laws here) that fully and explicitly prohibit discrimination against LGBTQ people in employment, housing, and public accommodations.

Studies and Statistics

The Williams Institute at UCLA 2015 study “Employment Discrimination Based on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity in Texas.” From the study:

45% of trans individuals in Texas report not being hired for a job because of gender identity
26% report being fired
22% experience housing discrimination because of gender identity

The Williams Institute at UCLA 2017 study “The Impact of Stigma and Discrimination against LGBT People in Texas.” Reports on the economic and health impacts of discrimination.

The Economic Case for Equality

US Chamber of Commerce: Business Success and Growth through LGBT-Inclusive Culture. A 2019 report from the US Chamber of Commerce on how “promoting a diverse and inclusive workplace is good for business.” The report notes that even with inclusive policies at many businesses, nearly 50% of LGBT employees remain closeted at work, because “In more than half of all U.S. states, state law does not explicitly prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. This means being out as an LGBT individual at work in those states may be grounds for dismissal.”

Corporate Equality Index scores from 2019. Read how large businesses improved their work environment for all their employees, and what they did to earn a perfect score.

Texas Competes is a partnership of business leaders committed to a Texas that is economically vibrant and welcoming of all people, including lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people. The Texas brand matters to businesses because that brand can have an impact on business, municipal, and state competitiveness for talent, entrepreneurship, corporate relocation, and tourism. Read more about the economic impact of discrimination, and sign the Texas Competes pledge.

Non-Discrimination Laws Make U.S. States More Innovative — a study published in Harvard Business Review with applicable lessons to Denton.

From the Human Rights Campaign: “Unchecked bias has clear costs. According to the Level Playing Field Institute, more than 2 million professionals and managers leave workplaces each year due to unfairness, costing U.S. employers $64 billion annually. 27 percent of people who experienced unfairness at work within the past year said their experience strongly discouraged them from recommending their employer to potential employees. Similarly, 13 percent said their experience strongly discouraged them from recommending their employer’s products or services.”

“Having a Non-Discrimination Ordinance is just good business” — op-ed by Randi Skinner in Denton Record-Chronicle

Legal support for an equality ordinance

An Equality Ordinance does not equal “special rights” — “As the Supreme Court explained in Romer v. Evans, there is nothing “special” about laws which prevent people from losing jobs and homes because of who they are. Most of us take the right to participate in daily life on an equal footing for granted, the Court said, either because we already have the right under the law, or because we are not subjected to that kind of discrimination. Laws which prohibit discrimination simply give LGBT people that basic right to be equal participants in the communities in which they live.” – read more here

From the American Bar Association: “Currently, there is no federal law that explicitly prohibits discrimination against lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people. Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 outlaws hiring or employment discrimination on the basis of the employee’s “race, color, religion, sex, or national origin,” but does not mention sexual orientation, much less gender identity.”

Denton Specific Resources

The Municipal Equality Index for Denton: “The Municipal Equality Index (MEI) examines how inclusive municipal laws, policies, and services are of LGBTQ people who live and work there. Cities are rated based on non-discrimination laws, the municipality as an employer, municipal services, law enforcement and the city leadership’s public position on equality.”

Denton Record-Chronicle Op-ed by Adam Briggle — It’s time for a non-discrimination ordinance

Denton Record-Chronicle Op-ed by George Ferrie — All citizens have right to gainful employment, housing, public accommodations