North Carolina county protects gay workers

Commissioners in North Carolina's most populous county voted to add sexual orientation to its nondiscrimination policy despite vehement objections from Republicans. The new policy means Mecklenburg County cannot discriminate in hiring and personnel decisions on the basis of sexual orientation as well as race, color, sex, religion, national origin, and age. The change was approved 6-3 on Tuesday. Republican Dan Bishop said Democrats provoked controversy over the policy change to draw attention from a planned tax increase. Commission chairman Parks Helms said Republican reaction to the agenda item showed why it was needed. "This is to say who we are," he said. "This is what we believe." Other North Carolina counties and cities have passed similar antidiscrimination policies, and two counties--Durham and Orange--offer domestic-partner benefits. (AP)