The Mesa City Council recently approved a non-discrimination ordinance prohibiting discrimination in employment, housing and places of public accommodation based on race, color, ethnicity, national origin, age, disability, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, veteran’s status, marital status, genetic information or familial status. The new ordinance takes effect on June 29.

READ: Equality Arizona, ONE Community support passage of non-discrimination ordinance in Mesa

“Mesa’s non-discrimination ordinance demonstrates our commitment to respecting and supporting equality and diversity in our city,” Mesa Mayor John Giles said in a release. “I appreciate all of the input and robust community discussions that have informed the process and allowed us to take this important step forward.”

The Mesa Human Relations Advisory Board initiated the process in 2014 with a request for City Council to consider a non-discrimination ordinance. Since then, Mesa announced the One Mesa Pledge where individuals and businesses pledged to support diversity and inclusion. After studying the process in neighboring cities, the City of Mesa decided the time is right to adopt an official ordinance.

Mesa on March 2 became the seventh city in the state of Arizona to adopt a non-discrimination ordinance, joining Phoenix, Tucson, Flagstaff, Tempe, Winslow and Sedona.

Mesa’s non-discrimination ordinance has been reviewed and endorsed by the Mesa Chamber of Commerce; Visit Mesa; Mesa Economic Development Advisory Board; and Mesa Human Relations Advisory Board, the release states.

The ordinance does not apply to religious corporations and organizations, public schools, religious schools and charter schools. It does not apply to single-sex designated areas of a place of public accommodation or single-sex sports and recreational leagues and programs. In addition, the ordinance does not displace or repeal any criminal laws.