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12 <br /> had to change their hair from its natural state to fit in at the office than White women. Wearing <br /> one's hair in a natural or protective style may also have significant physical and psychological <br /> harm to those who have to choose between maintaining their livelihood and education or their <br /> cultural identity and hair health. Black women have faced significant socio-economic pressure <br /> to conform to white or European beauty standards by straightening or relaxing their hair, which <br /> can cause emotional distress, including dignitary and stigmatic harm. Because of this stress, <br /> Black women are likely to spend more money on their hair, spend more money on professional <br /> hair styling appointments and products, and experience anxiety related to hair. These <br /> experiences highlight the consequences of being compelled to conform to the standards of <br /> White and European beauty standards or stigmatized for wearing one's hair in a natural style. <br /> The North Carolina Supreme Court, in 2003, declared the employment law section of the <br /> Orange County Civil Rights Ordinance (the Civil Rights Ordinance") unconstitutional. Later that <br /> year, the Board of Commissioners attempted to get statewide legislation passed that would <br /> allow counties to pass local ordinances protecting the rights of residence against employment <br /> discrimination. The legislation passed the House but stalled in the Senate. Today, North <br /> Carolina does not have a statewide Fair Employment Law, nor does it allow localities to protect <br /> its residents from employment discrimination. <br /> Staff recommends the following: <br /> 1. Supporting H.R 5309, Creating a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair <br /> (CROWN) Act of 2020 prohibiting discrimination based on the individual's hair <br /> texture or hairstyle. (See Report Accompany H.R. 5309) <br /> 2. Supporting a similar CROWN Act legislation in North Carolina AND a North <br /> Carolina Fair Employment law to support the enforcement of the CROWN Act and <br /> other employment discrimination laws in North Carolina <br /> 3. Amending Chapter 12 of the Civil Rights Ordinance to prohibit discrimination <br /> based on a individual's hair texture or hairstyle, if the hair texture or hairstyle is <br /> commonly associated with the person's race, national origin, or religion (including <br /> a hairstyle in which hair is tightly coiled, locs, cornrows, twists, braids, Bantu knots, <br /> and Afros) <br /> The terms "national origin" and "religion" have the same meaning as in §12-6 of <br /> the Orange County Civil Rights Ordinance. The terms "national origin," "religion," <br /> and "race" include discrimination based on hair texture or hairstyle commonly <br /> associated with a particular race, national origin, or religion (including a hairstyle in <br /> which hair is tightly coiled, locs, cornrows, twists, braids, Bantu knots, and Afros). <br /> ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS <br /> RESOLUTION OF AMENDMENT <br /> RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF ADOPTION OF THE CROWN ACTOR OTHER <br /> LEGISLATION PROHIBITING RACE-BASED HAIR DISCRIMINATION IN ORANGE COUNTY <br /> AND THE STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA <br />