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15 <br /> NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Orange County Board of County <br /> Commissioners hereby: <br /> 1. Supports the passage of H.R. 5309 Creating a Respectful and Open World for <br /> Natural Hair Act of 2020 into law; <br /> 2. Requests the North Carolina General Assembly pass legislation similar to H.R. <br /> 5309 and a Fair Employment law that will protect all North Carolinians from all <br /> forms of employment discrimination; and <br /> 3. Support the inclusion of religious discrimination as a category of protected class in <br /> federal and state law. <br /> BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Clerk to the Board is directed to send copies of this <br /> resolution to the Orange County delegation to the North Carolina Legislature, Governor Roy <br /> Cooper, North Carolina Senators Richard Burr and Thom Tillis, and US Representative David <br /> Price; and <br /> BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Code of Ordinances, Orange County, North Carolina, <br /> Chapter 12, Section 54(c) be amended to add the following numbered section 12-54(c)(3), <br /> which section reads as shown in the attached revised ordinance to prohibit discrimination in <br /> Orange County. <br /> This the 2nd day of March 2021. <br /> Renee Price, Chair <br /> Orange County Board of Commissioners <br /> A motion was made by Commissioner Hamilton, seconded by Commissioner Greene, to <br /> approve the Resolution and adopt the Ordinance and authorize the Chair to sign the Resolution <br /> amending the Code of Ordinances. <br /> Commissioner Dorosin asked if there is a reason why religious discrimination was <br /> included under the resolved section, as religion is protected by the first amendment. He <br /> expressed concern over inclusion of religious discrimination, as it could be used for justification <br /> for non-compliance for non-discrimination laws. <br /> Commissioner Dorosin said he would like to remove the third point under the "now <br /> therefore be it resolved" section. <br /> Commissioner Hamilton agreed. <br /> Annette Moore said it is for protection of hairstyles that are associated with religions, like <br /> Rastafarianism. She said she was not including religion as a protected class, but rather <br /> wanting to insure that people would not be forced to change a hairstyle that is worn due to <br /> religious reasons. <br /> Commissioner Dorosin said the way the third item is written, does not reflect the intent <br /> just outlined by Annette Moore. <br /> Annette Moore said the background in the agenda abstract aligns with the third item. <br /> Commissioner Greene said it would be better to phrase it as support for the inclusion of <br /> religion as a protected class, rather than religious discrimination. She said overall she <br /> supported Commissioner Dorosin's request that item 3 not be included. <br />