By Gudrun Schultz
FRANKFORT, Kentucky, April 12, 2006 (LifeSiteNews.com) – Sexual orientation will no longer be included under state protection from job discrimination after Gov. Ernie Fletcher implemented a new employment policy on Tuesday.
The policy bans employment discrimination because of “race, colour, national origin, sex, age, religion, veteran status and disability,” but excludes sexual orientation, reported the Courier-Journal yesterday.
Spokesman for the governor, Brett Hall, said including homosexuality could force the state government to provide separate washrooms for transsexuals.
“These types of special privileges are not only difficult to comply with, but it’s very expensive.” He said the order is meant to prohibit all discrimination. “This is in no way to discriminate against anyone.”
Gov. Fletcher said in a statement that the policy changes “equalizes the playing field” for people seeking state employment.
Listing ‘sexual orientation’ as unacceptable grounds for discrimination would also leave the government vulnerable to demands for spousal benefits to be paid to homosexual partners, a complication specific to that category.