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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><img width="229" height="74" id="Picture_x0020_1" src="cid:image003.png@01D33DD4.189F71E0"></span></b><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt">For Immediate Release<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt">October 5, 2017<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt">CONTACT: Charlie Burr, (971) 673-0788<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt">Avakian on Sessions discrimination memo: Protections for transgender Oregonians remains strong</span></b><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black">PORTLAND, OR</span></b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black">—In response a memo by Attorney General Jeff Sessions seeking to rollback federal protections for transgender Americans in the
workplace, Labor Commissioner Brad Avakian today issued a statement affirming Oregon’s commitment to ensuring strong and fair enforcement of transgender discrimination laws.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black">Our agency is committed to protecting the civil rights of all Oregonians – including transgender Oregonians – so that people are not denied employment, housing or access
to public places based on who they are or who they love. The Oregon Equality Act of 2007 protects transgender Oregonians from unlawful discrimination – protection that does not change with this most recent attempt to rollback civil rights by Attorney General
Jeff Sessions. Any transgender Oregonian may file a civil rights complaint with our agency. A complainant doesn’t need an attorney to file nor does it cost money to submit a complaint. Further, we intend to continue enforcing both Oregon’s strong protections
and Title VII protections through our agency’s contract with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission so that all Oregonians are treated fairly under law.</span></b><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black">Oregon businesses and employers seeking help navigating transgender civil rights protections can contact the agency’s Technical Assistance for Employers Program
</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black">at (971) 673-0824</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black">.
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black">For more information about BOLI’s efforts to protect workplaces and the civil rights of all Oregonians, visit
</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><a href="http://www.oregon.gov/BOLI">http://www.oregon.gov/BOLI</a></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black">.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;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">Oregon Bureau of Labor and Industries<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">800 NE Oregon, Ste. 1050<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Portland, OR 97232<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Tel: 971-673-0788 <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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