City of Tempe Honored by Human Rights Campaign
The Human Rights Campaign (HRC) of Arizona awarded the City of Tempe the 2015 Community Action Award on Saturday, Feb. 28 at the 11th Annual HRC Arizona Gala Dinner.
The Human Rights Campaign, the nation’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) civil rights organization, is recognizing Tempe for advancing city-wide equality through a city ordinance, a Charter change through a local ballot initiative, and updating policies to be named one of 38 national “All Stars” on the Human Rights Campaign’s Municipal Equality Index. Tempe earned a perfect score of 100 in the 2014 Human Rights Campaign Foundation’s annual Municipal Equality Index, a gauge of how cities are doing on LGBT equality issues.
“The City of Tempe is honored to receive this recognition,” said Mayor Mark Mitchell. “We have long been an inclusive community and we will continue to work with our community partners to ensure that Tempe is always at the forefront of creating opportunities and taking down barriers.”
Tempe has a history of valuing diversity and taking action to prevent discrimination.
In 1999, the city was one of the first in Arizona to begin providing domestic partner benefits. In February 2014, the City Council unanimously approved an anti-discrimination ordinance that secured broad protections for all community members. In August, Tempe voters resoundingly approved an amendment to the city Charter (more than 68 percent approval) to prohibit discrimination or favor for city positions on the basis of race, color, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, national origin, familial status, age, disability, political affiliation and United States military veteran status, except as such favor may be authorized by law. Protections apply to employment at the city and at businesses in Tempe, as well as to contracts, housing, public places and appointments to city Boards and Commissions.
The Human Rights Campaign of Arizona will also recognize Aiken Schenk Law Firm and Lambda Legal as the Corporate Equality Award recipients, and Bobbi Lancaster as the Individual Equality Award recipient. For more information, visit www.hrcazdinner.org.