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<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><b><span style="font-size:16.0pt"><img width="185" height="60" id="_x0000_i1025" src="cid:image001.gif@01CEAA58.5AC02970"></span></b><b><o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><o:p> </o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Press Release<o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">For Immediate Release<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Sept. 5, 2013<o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">CONTACT: Charlie Burr, (971) 673-0788 <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><o:p> </o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><b><span style="color:black">Same-sex couple files civil rights complaint against Broadway Cab<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><i><span style="color:black">“We are committed to a fair, through investigation,” says Labor Commissioner Avakian
<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black">Portland, OR—A same-sex couple has filed an anti-discrimination complaint with the Oregon Bureau of Labor and Industries (BOLI) against Broadway Cab for allegedly refusing service based on sexual orientation.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black">BOLI will conduct an investigation to determine if the business violated the
<b>Oregon Equality Act of 2007</b> protecting the rights of gays, lesbians, bisexual and transgender Oregonians in employment, housing and public places.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black">Under Oregon law, Oregonians cannot be denied service based on sexual orientation. The law provides an exemption for religious organizations and schools, but does not allow private business owners to discriminate
based on sexual orientation, just as they cannot legally deny service based on race, sex, age, disability or religion.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="color:black">The Broadway Cab filing represents the 12<sup>th</sup> complaints of unlawful discrimination in public places under the 2007 equality law. After the agency’s investigations, BOLI found
no substantial evidence in five of the complaints. Parties negotiated settlements in three cases, with another case (Sweet Cakes) still being reviewed by BOLI investigators. In total, the agency has received 182 Oregon Equality Act employment, housing and
public accommodations complaints, finding no substantial evidence in 103 of the investigations.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="color:black">“Each case is unique. We’re committed to a thorough and impartial investigation to determine whether there’s substantial evidence of unlawful discrimination,”
</span></b><span style="color:black">said Oregon Labor Commissioner Avakian. “<b>For businesses seeking to navigate Oregon’s equality law, we can help them navigate this and other civil rights laws so that they can avoid potential violations in the first place</b>.”
<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black">BOLI investigations are statutorily required to conclude within a year. If investigators find substantial evidence, the bureau may bring formal charges if parties cannot reach a settlement through conciliation.
The case then moves to the Administrative Prosecution Unit, responsible for processing the contested civil rights division cases pursuant to the Administrative Procedures Act (APA) and BOLI contested case hearing rules.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black">Copies of the complaint are available upon request. For more information about BOLI’s efforts to protect workplaces and support Oregon employers, visit
</span><a href="http://www.oregon.gov/BOLI">http://www.oregon.gov/BOLI</a><span style="color:black">.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="color:black">###<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Charlie Burr<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Communications Director<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Bureau of Labor and Industries<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">800 NE Oregon St., Ste. 1045<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Portland, OR 97232-2180<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">(971) 673-0788 wk.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">(503) 913-5407 cell.<o:p></o:p></p>
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