Expansion of Holland's Anti-Discrimination Ordinance Includes Protections for Many Groups
In August 2020, Holland's City Council approved changes to the city's anti-discrimination ordinance to include protections that impact the LGBTQ community and also many other groups not previously covered under the ordinance.
These changes have the potential to positively impact talent recruitment and retention for companies in our area. Many local companies are actively prioritizing diversity, equity and inclusion programs, and this change aligns the city's priorities with theirs.
Ordinance 1784
Chapter 25 Protection Against Discrimination
The Ordinance 1784 document opens with the following: "It is the policy of the City of Holland to exercise its police power to ensure public safety, public health, and a person's general welfare. It is the intent of the City that no individual be denied equal protection of the laws, nor shall an individual be denied the enjoyment of their civil rights or be discriminated against because of age, race, national origin, color, disability, education, familial status, sex, sexual orientation, gender expression, gender identity, height, marital status, religion, source of income or weight."
Member Question: Can You Explain the Changes to Holland's Anti-Discrimination Ordinance?
In this Member Question of the Day episode, I'm joined by Jeffrey Sorenson, Director of Out on the Lakeshore to talk about the recent changes made to Holland, Michigan's Anti-Discrimination ordinance.
These changes, voted in by the Holland City Council in August 2020, impact the LGBTQ community and also many other groups not previously covered under the ordinance. Watch the 5-minute interview to learn about more groups that were added to the non-discrimination ordinance, and how the City of Holland took the opportunity to make this a much more comprehensive clause.
City of Holland Information
- The City of Holland has named DEI its top priority for 2020. Read Holland Sentinel Article.
- Read about the City of Holland's Human Relations Commission.
- In October 2020, Human Relations Director, Esther Fifelski, was named the 2020 recipient of Ottawa County's Excellence in Equity Award, This Award recognizes individuals that impact the public sector field in Ottawa County and focus on the importance of equity through their practices, programs, policies and decision making.