Nike on Antibias Law: Just Pass It

Nike Inc. says Nashville officials considering an antidiscrimination ordinance governing city contractors should just pass it.

Nike has sent a letter to the measure's sponsor saying the ordinance will "uphold the basic principles of equality and fairness," Nashville's City Paper reports. It would require firms doing business with the Nashville-Davidson County metropolitan government to adopt policies against discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity, the same policy that applies to city and county employees.

"By supporting this measure, you support the guiding principle that every American deserves a chance to compete and prosper on a level playing field," wrote Orson C. Porter, Nike's U.S. director of governance and public affairs, in the letter sent Monday to Mike Jameson, the metro council member sponsoring the ordinance. Oregon-based Nike has about 2,000 employees in Tennessee, mostly in Memphis.

Council members advanced the ordinance by a 21-16 vote on its second reading in February. The third and final reading is scheduled for Tuesday night but is likely to be postponed a week, as several supporters are on vacation, City Paper notes.