ATLANTA — The DeKalb County Commission unanimously approved a non-discrimination ordinance Tuesday.
The ordinance bans discrimination against anyone based on race, color, or sex. It also does not allow for discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity, or protective hairstyle. It applies in places of public accommodation such as businesses.
Following Tuesday's vote, the commissioners raised a Pride flag outside of its government center with other county and local leaders, including State Rep. Karla Drenner, the first openly gay state representative, according to DeKalb County.
"This ordinance talks about classes and groups of people, but those are family members, those are friends, those are our brothers and sisters," Commissioner Robert Patrick said in a news release. "They're our people."
The vote notably comes weeks after the Supreme Court's decision regarding a graphic artist who refused to make wedding websites for same-sex couples.
The court ruled 6-3 for designer Lorie Smith, saying she can refuse to design websites for same-sex weddings despite a Colorado law that bars discrimination based on sexual orientation, race, gender and other characteristics. The court said forcing her to create the websites would violate her free speech rights under the Constitution's First Amendment.
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