§ 12-4-2. Findings of fact and declaration of policy.

(a)

Findings. The city council of the City of Alexandria, Virginia, having conducted public hearings finds:

(1)

The population of the City of Alexandria consists of people of different races, colors, sexes, religions, ancestries, national origins, marital statuses, familial statuses, ages, sexual orientations and disabilities, many of whom, because of their race, color, sex, religion, ancestry, national origin, marital status, familial status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, transgender status or disability, in some instances have been unjustly discriminated against with respect to housing, employment, public accommodations, health and social services, education, credit or city contracts.

(2)

Discrimination because of race, color, sex, religion, ancestry, national origin, marital status, familial status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, transgender status or disability with respect to housing causes, at least in part, circumscribed and segregated areas within the city and deprives many persons of the opportunity to live in the city or the opportunity to live in decent housing.

(3)

Discrimination because of race, color, sex, religion, ancestry, national origin, marital status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, transgender status or disability with respect to employment denies job opportunities to many citizens of Alexandria and causes depressed living conditions.

(4)

Discrimination because of race, color, sex, religion, ancestry, national origin, marital status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or transgender status or disability in places of public accommodation causes embarrassment and inconvenience to citizens and visitors of the city and is detrimental to the welfare of the city.

(5)

Discrimination because of race, color, sex, religion, ancestry, national origin, marital status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or transgender status or disability with respect to credit, credit-related services or credit ratings arbitrarily denies financial opportunities and purchasing power to many citizens.

(6)

Discrimination because of race, color, sex, religion, ancestry, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, transgender status or disability with respect to education denies appropriate role models and career and athletic opportunities to the students, teachers and administrative staff.

(7)

Discrimination because of race, color, sex, religion, ancestry, national origin, marital status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, transgender status or disability with respect to health and social services is detrimental to the health of many citizens and deprives many needy and unfortunate citizens of the bare essentials of life.

(8)

Discrimination because of race, color, sex, religion, ancestry, national origin, marital status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, transgender status or disability with respect to city contract employment denies job opportunities to many citizens and causes depressed living conditions.

(9)

Discrimination because of race, color, sex, religion, ancestry, national origin, marital status, familial status, age or disability is contrary to the law of the United States of America and the spirit of the Constitution of Virginia.

(10)

It is in the public interest and in furtherance of the welfare and wellbeing of all citizens of Alexandria, Virginia to assure that each citizen is treated fairly, provided equal protection of the law and afforded full and equal opportunity to enjoy life, liberty, property and the pursuit of happiness.

(11)

The conditions set forth in subsections (1) through (9) above have caused or are capable of causing or encouraging crime, riots, disturbances, disorders, delinquency, breach of peace, fires, poverty, slums, blighted areas, overcrowding, unhealthy and unsanitary conditions, disease, increased mortality, unstable family life, increased cost of government, excessive public assistance problems, unemployment, loss of manpower, loss of womanpower, loss of tax revenue, and loss of trade, commerce, business and productivity.

(b)

Policy. The City Council of the City of Alexandria, Virginia, hereby declares:

(1)

That it is contrary to the policy of the city to permit the conditions mentioned in this section to exist or to arise.

(2)

That it is the duty and policy of the city to exercise all available means and every power it possesses to protect the city and its citizens from such conditions and from the undesirable results that have been or may be caused or encouraged by the existence of such conditions.

(3)

That, except as hereinafter provided, it is and shall be the policy of the city, in the exercise of its police power and all other powers it may possess, to protect the safety, health, peace, good order, comfort, convenience, morals and welfare of its inhabitants, to assure all persons the opportunity to obtain housing, public accommodations, employment, health and social services, credit, education and city contracts without regard to race, color, sex, religion, ancestry, national origin, marital status, familial status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, transgender status or disability.

(4)

That to carry out these goals and policies it is and shall be the policy of the city generally, except as hereinafter provided, to prohibit discrimination because of race, color, sex, religion, ancestry, national origin, marital status, familial status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, transgender status or disability with respect to housing, public accommodations, employment, health and social services, credit, education and city contracts. (Code 1963, Sec. 18A-2; Ord. No. 2517, 10/14/80, Sec. 1; Ord. No. 3328, 10/15/88, Sec. 1; Ord. No. 3498, 2/23/91, Sec. 1; Ord. No. 3850, 3/23/96, Sec. 1; Ord. No. 4549, 6/14/08, Sec. 1; Ord. No. 5126, 4/14/18, Sec. 1; Ord. No. 5258, 12/14/19, Sec. 1)