WHEREAS, federal law does not provide adequate protections to individuals facing

discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity; and

WHEREAS, Washington state law protects lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender (LGBT) people

from discrimination in employment, housing, public accommodations and insurance,

malicious harassment and hate crimes, and affords LGBT couples many of the rights afforded to opposite sex couples; and

WHEREAS, among the 50 largest U.S. cities, Seattle is third in the percentage of residents

identifying themselves as gay, lesbian or bisexual (Williams Institute on Sexual

Orientation Law and Public Policy at the University of California, 2006); and

WHEREAS, the City of Seattle values being an open and inclusive city for all of its residents, including those who are LGBT; and

WHEREAS, the City of Seattle has participated in the Seattle Gay Pride Parade and Rally;

marched in the parade; and, participated by speaking at the rally and providing

information about City services at the rally since 1972; and

WHEREAS, in 1973 the City of Seattle included sexual orientation as a protected category when

it adopted the Fair Employment Ordinance prohibiting discrimination in employment, and

in 1975 added sexual orientation as a protected category for illegal discrimination in housing; and

WHEREAS, in 1985 the City of Seattle created the Mayor's Lesbian/Gay Task Force, since

renamed the Seattle Lesbian, Gay Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) Commission; and

WHEREAS, the Seattle LGBT Commission has served Seattle residents for 25 years, providing

advice and guidance to the City of Seattle on LGBT issues; and

WHEREAS, in 1997 the City of Seattle adopted a resolution opposing discrimination against

same-sex couples in Washington State and supporting legal recognition of civil marriages

of same-sex couples; and

WHEREAS, in 1999 the City of Seattle granted domestic partner benefits for City employees and

created the City of Seattle's Domestic Partnership Registration program, which allows

unmarried same-sex and opposite-sex couples in committed, on-going family

relationships to register their relationships; and

WHEREAS, in 1999 the City of Seattle amended the Fair Employment Ordinance to provide a

private cause of action for discrimination complaints in violation of the City's

employment anti-discrimination laws; and

WHEREAS, since 1999 the City of Seattle has required that all employers contracting with the

City for more than $30,000, extend the same benefits to same-sex domestic partners that

they offer to legally married partners; and

WHEREAS, the City of Seattle encourages companies to adopt nondiscrimination policies that

include both sexual orientation and gender identity, as well as to provide domestic partner

benefits to their LGBT employees and their families; and

WHEREAS, the City of Seattle has been an advocate for the legal rights for all individuals

including the freedom to marry; and

WHEREAS, since 2004 the City of Seattle adopted an executive order acknowledging the

validity of City employees' marriages, regardless of the sex of the individuals, for the

purpose granting City employment benefits, and affirming the City's support for state

legislation that would recognize same sex marriages; and

WHEREAS; the City of Seattle advocates for culturally competent and medically accurate health

care for everyone including the LGBT community; and

WHEREAS; the City of Seattle advocates for greater awareness of discrimination faced by young

people who are perceived as being lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender or those

questioning their sexual identity; and

WHEREAS, the City of Seattle is proud of its LGBT employees; and

WHEREAS, people seeking to limit the rights of the LGBT community are in conflict with City

policies and anti-discrimination laws;

NOW, THEREFORE,

BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SEATTLE THAT:

The City of Seattle reaffirms its commitment to full equal rights for all of its residents and employees regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity; and

1. Establishes that it is City policy: that City departments work with the Seattle Office for Civil Rights (SOCR) and the Seattle LGBT Commission to provide a report to the Seattle City Council and the Mayor by June 2011 that assesses the employment, housing, health and other needs of Seattle's LGBT community and to propose community and City strategies for meeting those needs, and

2. Reaffirms that it is City policy to participate in the annual Pride Parade and Rally;

Including that departments assign a staff person to participate in a citywide coordinating team.

Adopted by the City Council the ____ day of ____________________, 2010, and signed by me in open session in authentication of its adoption this________ day

of ______________________, 2010.

_________________________________

President ___________of the City Council

Filed by me this ____ day of ________________________, 2010.

____________________________________

City Clerk

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