Tennessee Bill Would Bar Local Protection Against Sexual Orientation Discrimination in Employment

On Monday, state representative Glen Casada introduced HB 331 in the Tennessee legislature. The bill would bar localities from enacting employment discrimination ordinances that go further than state law.  Titled the Equal Access to Local Government Contracts and Services Act, the law would effectively preclude cities from barring discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation. Nashville's City Paper reports that the bill is directed at a proposal in Nashville that would bar sexual orientation discrimination by companies that do business with the Metro Nashville government.