DeKalb County commissioners are set to discuss an amendment Tuesday, Oct. 20, that would extend the county's non-discrimination ordinance to cover private employment and housing.
The change would apply countywide, including in Dunwoody and Brookhaven. Residents and businesses in both cities could face new protections and obligations under the expanded law.
The county's existing non-discrimination ordinance (NDO), passed unanimously in July 2023, bars discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity and 15 other categories in public spaces and county employment. But it does not cover private-sector jobs or housing, according to Rough Draft Atlanta, which first reported on the amendment.
The accounts differ on what the original law covers. A 2023 county press release described the NDO as covering "public accommodations, housing and employment." Rough Draft Atlanta reported the current law does not extend to private-sector jobs or housing. The full amendment text has not been released.
The amendment has three sponsors. Commissioners Robert Patrick, Michelle Long Spears and Ted Terry introduced the measure, which applies to all commission districts, according to county legislative records.
The amendment first appeared on the commission's Aug. 11 agenda, where it was deferred with a substitute version, county records show. It is now before the Committee of the Whole, which reviews items before they go to the full Board of Commissioners for a final vote. The next full board meeting is scheduled for Oct. 27 at 9 a.m. at 178 Sam's Street in Decatur.
The legislation record describes the amendment as needed "to strengthen DeKalb County's protections against discrimination and ensure equal access to employment, housing, and public accommodations."
Georgia Equality, the state's largest LGBTQ+ advocacy group, and the DeKalb County LGBTQ+ Democrats are encouraging residents to contact their commissioners in support of the measure, Rough Draft Atlanta reported.
When the original ordinance passed in 2023, Commissioner Terry called it a milestone. "It is critical that we as leaders do everything within our power to make our county inclusive and welcoming, especially in such tumultuous times," Terry said in the county press release at the time.
Violations of the current ordinance can result in a six-month suspension of a business license. The legislation record does not specify whether the amendment changes those penalties.
Residents can watch the Committee of the Whole meeting live on DCTV Channel 23 starting at 9 a.m.
