Spokane Municipal Code

Title 18 Human Rights

Chapter 18.01 Law Against Discrimination

Section 18.01.020 Purpose and Intent

1. The City values the dignity and worth of all human beings and is committed to promoting justice, equity and an inclusive environment for all by respecting cultural and individual diversity and fostering mutual understanding among all people regardless of race, religion, creed, color, sex, national origin, marital status, familial status, domestic violence victim status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, honorably discharged veteran or military status, refugee status, the presence of any sensory, mental or physical disability as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act and/or the Washington State Law Against Discrimination, or the receipt of, or eligibility for the receipt of, funds from any housing choice or other subsidy program or alternative source of income.

2. It is the intent of the City that all people have an equal opportunity to participate fully in the life of the City and that discriminatory barriers to equal participation in employment, housing, and public accommodations be removed. The City has a compelling interest in eradicating and preventing such discrimination and in ensuring equal opportunity in employment, housing, and public accommodations. This Title 18 represents the least restrictive means of achieving the City’s objectives.

3. The provisions of this Title 18 are to be broadly and liberally construed to effectuate this Title’s remedial purpose and the City’s legislative intent.

4. These sections are not intended to establish or require affirmative action or quotas of any kind, or to infringe upon the authority vested in the civil service commission and City departments pursuant to the City Charter.

5. By enacting this title, the City expresses its intent to ensure that Spokane generally, as well as the City itself, is free from bias or discrimination on the basis of race, religion, creed, color, sex, national origin, marital status, familial status, domestic violence victim status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, honorably discharged veteran or military status, refugee status, the presence of any sensory, mental or physical disability as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act and/or the Washington State Law Against Discrimination, and free from sexual harassment.

6. Nothing in this chapter shall constitute a cause of action under state law or form a basis for relief in the state courts. It is the intent of this chapter that all causes of action for violations of the chapter shall lie with the City of Spokane’s Hearing Examiner, Municipal Court, or Superior Court, as specified in this Title 18.

7. Nothing in this Title 18 shall be deemed to deny any person the right to institute any action or to pursue any civil or criminal remedy for the violation of such person’s civil rights. Nothing in this Title 18 shall limit or expand any cause of action available to any person under federal or state law.

Date Passed: Monday, March 27, 2017

Effective Date: Saturday, May 13, 2017

ORD C35485 Section 2