Nashville has joined more than 100 other localities across the nation that prohibit firms and contractors conducting business with the city from discriminating against employees on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity. Similar protections were granted to city employees in 2009, and Metro Council members voted 21-15 on Tuesday night to extend the ordinance to cover contractors, which now will be required to sign affidavits of compliance with the new rule.
Mayor Karl Dean has said that he will sign the bill; however, opposition to the new measure could still arise at the state level, as a bill prohibiting such local antidiscrimination measures is currently under debate in state legislative committees.
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