Date: Fri, 21 May 99 18:58:00 -0500 From: National Gay and Lesbian Task Force Subject: [NGLTF PRESS] Nevada Passes Employment Rights Bill *********************************************** NATIONAL GAY AND LESBIAN TASK FORCE PRESS RELEASE Contact: Betsy Gressler, Deputy Political Director 202-332-6483 ext. 3306 800-757-6476 pager bgressler@ngltf.org 1700 Kalorama Road NW, Washington, DC 20009 www.ngltf.org *********************************************** NEVADA LEGISLATURE PASSES EMPLOYMENT RIGHTS BILL; AMENDMENT EXEMPTS NON-PROFIT GROUPS WASHINGTON, DC --- May 21, 1999 --- The National Gay and Lesbian Task Force today applauded the Nevada legislature's approval of a bill to ban job discrimination based on sexual orientation. The bill passed the Assembly 30-11 on April 1st and the Senate on May 20th by a vote of 13-8. The measure now goes back to the Assembly for approval of a Senate amendment, then on to Governor Kenny Guinn (R) who has pledged to sign it into law. "We commend the Nevada legislature for recognizing that discrimination is wrong," said Kerry Lobel, executive director of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force. "Today's vote sends a signal that Nevada values and respects all its citizens." Introduced by openly gay Assemblyman David Parks, the bill will add sexual orientation to the state's existing employment non-discrimination law. The bill carries an amendment that exempts non-profit organizations from complying with the sexual orientation provision of the non-discrimination provisions. The exemption would apply to all nonprofits, such as charitable organizations like the Boy Scouts or American Red Cross, private schools, museums, hospitals, and others. Currently ten states have civil rights laws banning discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation in some categories that include employment, housing, and public accommodations. The states (and the year the laws were enacted) are Wisconsin (1982); Massachusetts (1989); Connecticut and Hawaii (1991); California, New Jersey, and Vermont (1992); Minnesota (1993); Rhode Island (1995); New Hampshire (1997). Bills creating or strengthening civil rights laws covering gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people have been introduced in 20 states (CA, CO, DE, HI, IL, IA, LA, MA, MD, MO, MT, NV, NH, NM, NY, TX, VT, VA, WA, WV). Civil rights bills in five of these states cover only employment-based discrimination (DE, IL, LA, NV, TX). Only the Nevada bill remains alive. Comprehensive civil rights legislation banning discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation in the areas of employment, housing, and public accommodations have been introduced in 13 states (CA, CO, HI, IA, IL, MD, MO, MT, NM, NY, VA, WA, WV). Measures in only two of these states remain alive (CA,NY). For more information about the bill, contact David Parks at 775/684-8821. For other state legislative activity, please consult the 1999 Legislative Updates issued by the Task Force at http://www.ngltf.org/legupdate99. For a complete review of 1998 activity, reference "Capital Gains and Losses," a state by state review of GLBT and HIV/AIDS-related legislation at http://www.ngltf.org/cgal98. -30- _____________________________________________________________________ Founded in 1973, the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force works to eliminate prejudice, violence and injustice against gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered people at the local, state and national level. As part of a broader social justice movement for freedom, justice and equality, NGLTF is creating a world that respects and celebrates the diversity of human expression and identity where all people may fully participate in society. _________________________________________ This message was issued by the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force Media Department. If you have a question regarding this post, please direct it to the contact at the top of this message. If you wish to UNSUBSCRIBE from this list, please send an email with "UNSUBSCRIBE PRESSLIST" in the subject and body of your email message to . You may also unsubscribe by visiting http://www.ngltf.org.