Bethel City Council has passed laws prohibiting discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity for city employees and contracted workers.
The ordinances passed quickly and unanimously on Tuesday without resistance during council discussion and public comment.
Council member Chuck Herman introduced the measures.
“It’s a needed protection,” Herman said. “It’s something that is very important both symbolically and for the well being of our employees.”
The ordinances add sexual orientation and gender identity in the city’s protected class alongside others like national origin, age, and religion.
These protections do not extend to the private sector.
Anna Rose MacArthur is a reporter at KYUK in Bethel.
