Exevious
04-15-2008, 08:01 PM
Nevermind his ignorance in lumping this all into a race issue, when the current policy clearly addresses 4 other areas of concern hoping to add a fifth.
Did he really need to drive his ignorance home with the use of irregardless??
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http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/dn/yahoolatestnews/stories/0416dnmetcolcommish.69786847.html?npc
Gay rights advocates push Collin County commissioners to adopt hiring policy that bans discrimination
06:56 PM CDT on Tuesday, April 15, 2008
By ED HOUSEWRIGHT / The Dallas Morning News
ehousewright@dallasnews.com
McKinney -- Gay rights advocates urged Collin County commissioners on Tuesday to adopt a hiring policy that prohibits discrimination based on sexual orientation.
Commissioners are considering a proposed policy that would ban discrimination based on “sex, race, creed, disability or national origin.” It does not specifically mention sexual orientation.
“To exclude sexual orientation and gender identity/expression from your policy sends a clear message to the people affected by it,” said Morris Garcia, president of the Collin County Gay and Lesbian Alliance.
He said the suggested policy would allow “bigoted opinions in the workplace that can only equate to a hostile environment, poor productivity, and unfair/unequal treatment.”
Commissioners took no action on the proposed equal employment opportunity policy. They said they would talk to other county elected officials and study it further. None of the four commissioners’ court members present discussed adding sexual orientation to the proposed policy.
Commissioner Phyllis Cole was absent.
Officials said the county needs a written equal employment opportunity policy to qualify for some federal law enforcement grants.
The discussion of a non-discriminatory hiring policy comes two weeks after a county employee’s sexual orientation became an issue. Justin Nichols, who is openly gay, heads the county’s teen court program and is running for Plano City Council.
Mr. Nichols alleged that Commissioner Jerry Hoagland had wanted the commissioners’ court to consider firing Mr. Nichols because of his sexual orientation.
Mr. Hoagland has declined comment.
Commissioners were tentatively slated to discuss Mr. Nichols’ job status in open session on Tuesday. But the item was never put on the final agenda.
His sexual orientation became an issue after the Dallas Voice, a gay and lesbian newspaper, ran a story about his Plano council candidacy and mentioned he was gay. Mr. Nichols said that prompted some people to question whether he should direct the teen court because he is gay.
Mr. Nichols did not attend Tuesday’s meeting.
He said he was glad to see commissioners debate a policy that would ban discrimination in hiring. He would not say if he thought the policy should specifically mention sexual orientation.
“Obviously, recent events have heightened our need to protect employees,” Mr. Nichols said. “I favor any policy for governmental entities that judges people based only on their merit and performance.”
Mr. Hoagland said he didn’t favor an equal employment opportunity policy because he feared it could lead to hiring quotas.
If commissioners approve a policy, county officials would begin tracking the demographic makeup of the workforce and compare it with the county population.
“I think we need to hire the most qualified person for the job, irregardless of race,” Mr. Hoagland said.
Did he really need to drive his ignorance home with the use of irregardless??
************************************************** *
http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/dn/yahoolatestnews/stories/0416dnmetcolcommish.69786847.html?npc
Gay rights advocates push Collin County commissioners to adopt hiring policy that bans discrimination
06:56 PM CDT on Tuesday, April 15, 2008
By ED HOUSEWRIGHT / The Dallas Morning News
ehousewright@dallasnews.com
McKinney -- Gay rights advocates urged Collin County commissioners on Tuesday to adopt a hiring policy that prohibits discrimination based on sexual orientation.
Commissioners are considering a proposed policy that would ban discrimination based on “sex, race, creed, disability or national origin.” It does not specifically mention sexual orientation.
“To exclude sexual orientation and gender identity/expression from your policy sends a clear message to the people affected by it,” said Morris Garcia, president of the Collin County Gay and Lesbian Alliance.
He said the suggested policy would allow “bigoted opinions in the workplace that can only equate to a hostile environment, poor productivity, and unfair/unequal treatment.”
Commissioners took no action on the proposed equal employment opportunity policy. They said they would talk to other county elected officials and study it further. None of the four commissioners’ court members present discussed adding sexual orientation to the proposed policy.
Commissioner Phyllis Cole was absent.
Officials said the county needs a written equal employment opportunity policy to qualify for some federal law enforcement grants.
The discussion of a non-discriminatory hiring policy comes two weeks after a county employee’s sexual orientation became an issue. Justin Nichols, who is openly gay, heads the county’s teen court program and is running for Plano City Council.
Mr. Nichols alleged that Commissioner Jerry Hoagland had wanted the commissioners’ court to consider firing Mr. Nichols because of his sexual orientation.
Mr. Hoagland has declined comment.
Commissioners were tentatively slated to discuss Mr. Nichols’ job status in open session on Tuesday. But the item was never put on the final agenda.
His sexual orientation became an issue after the Dallas Voice, a gay and lesbian newspaper, ran a story about his Plano council candidacy and mentioned he was gay. Mr. Nichols said that prompted some people to question whether he should direct the teen court because he is gay.
Mr. Nichols did not attend Tuesday’s meeting.
He said he was glad to see commissioners debate a policy that would ban discrimination in hiring. He would not say if he thought the policy should specifically mention sexual orientation.
“Obviously, recent events have heightened our need to protect employees,” Mr. Nichols said. “I favor any policy for governmental entities that judges people based only on their merit and performance.”
Mr. Hoagland said he didn’t favor an equal employment opportunity policy because he feared it could lead to hiring quotas.
If commissioners approve a policy, county officials would begin tracking the demographic makeup of the workforce and compare it with the county population.
“I think we need to hire the most qualified person for the job, irregardless of race,” Mr. Hoagland said.