Announcer: King County Charter
Amendment Number 7,
Prohibiting Discrimination
on the Basis of Family
Caregiver, Military,
or Veteran Status.
Currently, the charter prohibits
discrimination in employment
and contracting with
nongovernmental organizations
based on sex, race, color,
national origin,
religious affiliation,
disability, sexual orientation,
gender identity or expression,
and age,
except by minimum age
and retirement provisions.
If adopted,
Charter Amendment Number 7
would also prohibit
discrimination based on
one, status
as a family caregiver,
two, military status,
and, three, status as a veteran
who was honorably discharged
or who was discharged
solely as a result
of the person's
sexual orientation
or gender identity
or expression.
Hi, my name is Ed
and I'm a caregiver
in King County,
speaking in support
of Charter Amendment 7,
requesting that
the King County Charter
be amended to prohibit the county
from discriminating against
certain vulnerable groups
in county hiring
and contracting.
These groups include workers
with family caregiving responsibilities,
honorably discharged veterans
and those who face discrimination
based on their LGBTQ status.
We are
disproportionately black,
indigenous,
people of color,
and immigrants.
We are all your neighbors,
many of us struggling
with the challenges of caring
for an elderly relative
or a child with special needs.
All of us are facing the limitations
brought on by
the COVID-19 pandemic.
We are the financial backbone
of working families,
and historically,
we've borne the brunt
of wage discrimination and job loss.
We urge a yes vote
on this needed change
to the county charter.
The time is now
to outlaw discrimination
against working families
and veterans in King County.