People should not be judged based on their sexual preference, gender identity or genetic information. “All of us are to be judged based on our skills, ability and work ethic.”(Goldner).
The gender identity and genetic information of many people could soon be protected under a law by Fort Wayne city council in Indianapolis. Karen Goldner /(D) Fort Wayne Council 2nd District submitted a bill to amend a law that protects people against discrimination. Goldner says that the idea is to put gender identity into the same category as sexual orientation, because sexual orientation is already protected by law.
Lanka says, “People who believe they have been discriminated against by a business based on sexual orientation can petition the city’s Metropolitan Human Relations Commission to investigate the complaint.” People that are attracted to the same gender, have a different gender appearance to the one they are born with or people that are discriminated because of their gender role in some kind of situation would be able to petition the city’s Metropolitan Human Relations Commission to investigate the case in the same way as a sexual orientation investigation. Goldner says that this law will ensure that people will be treated equally.
“The federal law, called the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act, went into effect last year. It prohibits health insurers and employers from using genetic information to determine insurance coverage or rates, or to make hiring, firing and promotion decisions” (Genetics data law raises concern [Chattanooga Times Free Press, Tenn.]).
In addition, Goldner wants to protect the genetic information locally. In fact, she wants that the law from the local ordinances would be equal to the federal law. She thinks that protecting the genetic information “would prevent an insurance company from denying health insurance to a woman who was found to have a gene linked to breast cancer” (Goldner).
“The genetic information section follows the federal law preventing companies from using a person’s genetic information to discriminate” (Lanka). It is important to mention that local ordinances will soon start protecting people from genetic discrimination. This will prevent people traveling to other places to make complaints. For example, people in Indiana won’t have to travel to Indianapolis to make a genetic discrimination complaint. It will be easy for people that don’t have access to a car or are disabled.
Picture:
Gender Identity." Gender Identity Ordinace is put to FW. City Council. Web. 19 Feb 2010.
Sources:
"Genetics data law raises concern [Chattanooga Times Free Press, Tenn.]." Feb 14 2010: n. pag. Web. 19 Feb 2010. <http://insurancenewsnet.com>.
Neumeyer, Jeff. "Gender Identity Ordinace is put to FW. City Council." 9 Feb 2010: n. pag. Web. 19 Feb 2010. <http://www.indianasnewscenter.com>.
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