Bipartisan Bill Aims To Strengthen Protections For LGBT Workers
A Democrat and Republican will once again try to pass a bill aimed at strengthening protections for state employees who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender.
Rep. Karla Drenner, D-Avondale Estates, is sponsoring House Bill 323, which would ban the state from discriminating against employees based on sexual orientation. Drenner, a lesbian, has sponsored similar legislation in the past, but each time those efforts have failed.
Her last attempt included a powerful co-sponsor, House Judiciary Committee Chairman Wendell Willard. The Sandy Springs Republican is onboard again this year.
“I think it’s a valuable item to have on our books recognizing that Georgia as an employer is going to treat those individuals who are qualified to perform the work the same as anyone else regardless of their sexual orientation. That’s the bottom line,” Willard said.
Willard doesn’t know whether it can pass, but he believes more lawmakers will be open to the idea than in previous years.
“Some people have old mores. They don’t like the idea of legislation of that nature. But it’s rapidly changing,” Willard said.
Twenty-five states have similar protections for their state employees.
Drenner’s bill has yet to be assigned to a committee.
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