Garner adopts non-discrimination ordinance

Garner's Town Council unanimously approved adopting a non-discrimination ordinance on Tuesday night.

The town joins six others in Wake County that have adopted the ordinance. It's also been passed in dozens of other North Carolina cities including Durham, Chapel Hill, Carrboro, Hillsborough, Greensboro and Winston-Salem.

The ordinance will protect both people who live in the area and visitors from discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity and natural hairstyle, specifically in the workplace and in public areas, such as restaurants and stores.

Any employer or business that violates the ordinance would face mediation and, if necessary, mandatory changes. The ordinance, which doesn't apply to religious organizations, also spells out enforcement of alleged violations.