Ada County employees will now have protection against harassment and employment discrimination when it comes to their sexual orientation or gender identity.
The new policy has been in the works for a couple of months now.
Commissioner Diana Lachiando (D) called it a “small” but “important” change to help support those current or prospective county employees.
“We know that the world is changing in many different ways and it’s important for us to recognize that great employees come from all kinds of different places,” Lachiando said.
Both she and Commissioner Rick Visser voted for the change. Commissioner Kendra Kenyon was absent.
The step by Ada County falls short of action taken by more than a dozen cities across Idaho.
Places like Coeur d’Alene and Moscow have passed broader ordinances that ban discrimination against the LGBTQ community in the areas of employment, housing and public accommodations.
Boise and Meridian are the only two cities in Ada County that have passed such ordinances. Idaho lawmakers have repeatedly punted on considering statewide LGBTQ protections.
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