Guinn to sign bill prohibiting discrimination against gays

Friday, May 28, 1999 | 11:17 a.m.

CARSON CITY -- Gov. Kenny Guinn said today he would sign the bill to prohibit discrimination against gays in employment.

"This will be seen across the nation as a great day for Nevada," the bill's sponsor said.

Assemblyman David Parks, D-Las Vegas, said he was "immensely pleased" by the decision of the governor to approve Assembly Bill 311. Nevada joins 10 other states and the District of Columbia, which have similar laws.

The federal government has yet to pass a national act. Some opponents of the bill had suggested the state wait until Congress acts. Several years ago, an anti-gay discrimination bill died in the Senate 50-49, Parks said.

Sexual orientation, under the bill to become effective Oct. 1, is added to race, color, sex, religion and disabilities as things banned from discrimination in hiring, promotion and firing. However, tax-exempt organizations, such as the Boy Scouts, are excluded from the law.

Gary Peck, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union in Nevada, said his group was "ecstatic" about the signing. "We made it our top legislative priority over a year ago, and we are heartened that the Assembly and the Senate did the right thing."

The ACLU, he said, has received a handful of complaints in the last several months about discrimination on the job because of sexual orientation. "Even one is too many," Peck said.

"No one should be judged in the workplace on anything but their job performance," he said.

Parks, the only openly gay member of the Legislature "deserves enormous credit for the hard work he has put into this," Peck said.

While employed as a budget officer for the city of Las Vegas, Parks said his job was "redlined" -- or eliminated. He believed this was because he was gay. And he said when he applied for a top job in another government he was told it was best he remain in his deputy position.

The bill passed the Assembly 30-11 and the Senate 13-8.

Opponents said this bill will signify the state's seal of approval is placed on this lifestyle. They said the bill was morally wrong, and it would promote litigation in the future.