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<br />Office of the Mayor <br />NEWS RELEASE <br />June 24, 2009 <br />Noon <br />Mayor bars worker discrimination for gender identity <br />Contact: <br />Mikki Dobski, Director of Communications & Special Projects, 235-5855 or 876- <br />1564, or City Attorney Chuck Leone, 235-9241 <br />Mayor Stephen J. Luecke today issued the first executive order in his 12 years in office, <br />barring discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity for City <br />employees or in municipal government’s recruitment of prospective workers. <br />Although less far-reaching than a previously proposed Human Rights Ordinance, <br />Executive Order No. 1-2009 prohibits discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or <br />gender identity in any municipal employment. The statement of administrative policy <br />also directs departments and other internal operations of City government to: <br />Update the City’s Equal Employment Opportunity policy and employment manual. <br />Discuss discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity in related <br />employee training sessions. <br />Incorporate standard language prohibiting this form of discrimination in all <br />appropriate documentation, reporting such efforts to the City Controller. <br />The Executive Order became effective today when Luecke signed his name to the two- <br />page document. <br />“The City of South Bend is a progressive community that believes in freedom and <br />equality of opportunity for all. We treat everyone with dignity and respect,” Luecke said. <br />“This order ensures that my administration will not tolerate discrimination on the basis of <br />sexual orientation or gender identity in employment decisions, including hiring, firing, <br />promotion, compensations or other terms and conditions of city employment.” <br />Any City employee or applicant for employment with the City of South Bend who <br />experiences employment-related discrimination – whether because they are gay, lesbian, <br />bisexual, transgendered or heterosexual – is encouraged to report such incidents to the <br />Division of Human Resources, which will investigate and attempt to resolve the <br /> <br />