Bill would protect gay state workers

A bill would protect state workers from being fired over their sexual orientation.

Sen. Charlie Albertson, a Duplin County Democrat, filed the bill, which would add sexual orientation to the other equal opportunity categories in state government: race, religion, color, creed, national origin, sex, age and disability.

It would also add a nondiscrimination policy for legislative personnel.

Erica Baldwin, a spokeswoman for the State Employees Association of N.C., said that it supports the bill, though it had not sought it.

"Although the nondiscrimination clauses aren't one of our top policy platform objectives, SEANC supports any bill that protects state employees and retains the most quality workers," she said.

Baldwin said, as far as she is aware, SEANC has not received any calls about workers being fired over their sexual orientation.