The Rock Island County Board will review a resolution that affirms rights and protections extended to
Lesbian, Gay, Bi-sexual, and Transgendered (LGBT) county employees. The resolution was passed
by the Human Resources Committee on Thursday, July 16, 2015, and will come before the full County
board for final approval on Tuesday, July 21, 2015 at the 5:30 county board meeting.
The resolution, co-sponsored by Nick Camlin, (D) Rock Island County Board Vice-Chairman and
Drue Mielke (R), Rock Island County Board Republican Minority Caucus Leader, affirms the dignity
and respect for our county's LGBT employees. The resolution's goal is to assure that Rock Island
County extends equal benefits to all.
In bi-partisan cooperation, Mr. Camlin states "with Mr. Drue Mielke, I am happy to co-sponsor a very
important County Board Resolution that reaffirms our county's commitment to LGBT employees and
looks to the next horizon of rights and protections for all LGBT people."
Working together with Mr. Camlin, Mr. Mielke states, "I am proud to co-sponsor this bi-partisan resolution
as a Republican who recognizes and affirms the importance of individual right to self-determination, the
dignity and worth of every individual, and individual opportunity for employees of our county." Mr. Mielke
believes that this resolution is an outgrowth of our appreciation for our diverse workforce by our Rock
Island County Board.
Rock Island County has a rich history of extending respect and dignity to LGBT employees, including
benefits for same-sex couples, implementing the 2011 Civil Union law and the 2015 Marriage Equality
law, and setting policies protecting sexual orientation in the employee manual.
Rock Island County can further county employees' rights and protections by including both sexual
orientation and gender identity into county policies, expanding diversity training to include LGBT people,
and establishing a Diversity Council, ensuring that all married and civil union couples are included in
Family and Medical Leave Act provisions, and developing a procurement policy that asks businesses
with County contracts in excess of $25,000.00, to have nondiscrimination policies that include LGBT
people.
Mr. Camlin sends a clear message from the county, "If you come and work for our county, you will be
valued and you will have nothing to fear-- you can be yourself!"
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WHEREAS, the Supreme Court of the United States on Friday, June 26, 2015, ruled that there is a
constitutional right to marriage equality in all 50 states affording same-sex couples the right to engage in
civil marriage in Obergefell v. Hodges ; and
WHEREAS, other states and localities have pushed back against the ruling in order to deny rights and
protections to Lesbian, Gay, Bi-sexual, and Transgendered (LGBT) people; and
WHEREAS, our State has committed to granting rights and protections to LGBT residents, including the
2011 Civil Unions law, and the 2014 Marriage Equality law, implemented by our County Clerk; and
WHEREAS, our County wishes to reaffirm its commitment to LGBT employees; and
WHEREAS, the County has policies protecting sexual orientation, including Section 1 Hiring Practices,
Section 2 Equal Employment Opportunity, and Section 4 Anti-Harassment/Bullying in the Employee
Manual, and also extends benefits to same-sex couples, including health insurance; and
WHEREAS, the County Board wishes to express that LGBT employees are valued members of our County
departments that deserve the full rights and protections that all are endowed by their Creator with
certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness.
BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED BY THE COUNTY BOARD OF ROCK ISLAND COUNTY, ILLINOIS, IN OPEN
MEETING THIS 21ST DAY OF JULY 2015, AS FOLLOWS:
That the County Board directs the Administrator and Human Resources Department to:
1. Incorporate protections for both sexual orientation and gender identity into County policies
with the upcoming revisions;
2. Expand diversity training to include LGBT people, and establish a Diversity Council;
3. Ensure that all married and civil union couples are included in FMLA provisions; and
4. Draft a procurement policy that requires contractors with County contracts in excess of
$25,000.00, to have nondiscrimination policies that include LGBT people.
ATTEST:
______________________________ ______________________________
Karen Kinney, Clerk of the Board Ken Maranda, Chairman of the Board
