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<br /> 1 year, the Board of Commissioners attempted to get statewide legislation passed that would
<br /> 2 allow counties to pass local ordinances protecting the rights of residence against employment
<br /> 3 discrimination. The legislation passed the House but stalled in the Senate. Today, North
<br /> 4 Carolina does not have a statewide Fair Employment Law, nor does it allow localities to protect
<br /> 5 its residents from employment discrimination.
<br /> 6
<br /> 7 Staff recommends the following:
<br /> 8
<br /> 9 1. Supporting H.R 5309, Creating a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair
<br /> 10 (CROWN) Act of 2020 prohibiting discrimination based on the individual's hair
<br /> 11 texture or hairstyle. (See Report Accompany H.R. 5309)
<br /> 12
<br /> 13 2. Supporting a similar CROWN Act legislation in North Carolina AND a North
<br /> 14 Carolina Fair Employment law to support the enforcement of the CROWN Act and
<br /> 15 other employment discrimination laws in North Carolina
<br /> 16
<br /> 17 3. Amending Chapter 12 of the Civil Rights Ordinance to prohibit discrimination
<br /> 18 based on a individual's hair texture or hairstyle, if the hair texture or hairstyle is
<br /> 19 commonly associated with the person's race, national origin, or religion (including
<br /> 20 a hairstyle in which hair is tightly coiled, locs, cornrows, twists, braids, Bantu knots,
<br /> 21 and Afros)
<br /> 22
<br /> 23 The terms "national origin" and "religion" have the same meaning as in §12-6 of
<br /> 24 the Orange County Civil Rights Ordinance. The terms "national origin," "religion,"
<br /> 25 and "race" include discrimination based on hair texture or hairstyle commonly
<br /> 26 associated with a particular race, national origin, or religion (including a hairstyle in
<br /> 27 which hair is tightly coiled, locs, cornrows, twists, braids, Bantu knots, and Afros).
<br /> 28
<br /> 29
<br /> 30 ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
<br /> 31
<br /> 32 RESOLUTION OF AMENDMENT
<br /> 33 RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF ADOPTION OF THE CROWN ACTOR OTHER
<br /> 34 LEGISLATION PROHIBITING RACE-BASED HAIR DISCRIMINATION IN ORANGE COUNTY
<br /> 35 AND THE STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA
<br /> 36
<br /> 37 WHEREAS, Orange County is a community that prides itself on being composed of people who
<br /> 38 value diversity of backgrounds, cultures, beliefs, traditions and experiences; and
<br /> 39
<br /> 40 WHEREAS, appreciation for diversity in all forms strengthens a community, fosters a welcoming
<br /> 41 environment, and is critical to a thriving, successful city; and
<br /> 42
<br /> 43 WHEREAS, discrimination based upon natural hair texture and styles remains a source of racial
<br /> 44 bias, impacting educational and employment opportunities for people of color, particularly
<br /> 45 women and men of Black African descent; and
<br /> 46
<br /> 47 WHEREAS, Orange County has developed a locally applicable non-discrimination ordinance
<br /> 48 that will prohibit discrimination in employment, public accommodations, and fair housing access
<br /> 49 against individuals who wear"protected hairstyles," which is defined in the pending ordinance
<br /> 50 as "any hairstyle, hair type, or hair texture historically associated with race such as, but not
<br /> 51 limited to, braids, locks, twists, tight coils or curls, cornrows, Bantu knots, and afros"; and
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