MSU board to vote on nondiscrimination policy additions

The Missouri State University Board of Governors is scheduled to vote tomorrow on an expanded nondiscrimination policy.

If approved, the policy would be amended to include gender identity and expression, marital and family status, pregnancy and genetic information, according to the board’s Feb. 5 agenda.

Currently, the university’s nondiscrimination policy includes protections on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, ancestry, age, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation and political affiliation. It also prohibits sexual harassment and sexual violence.

“This policy shall not be interpreted in a manner as to violate the legal rights of religious organizations or of military organizations associated with the Armed Forces of the United States of America,” the agenda reads.

The agenda cites voters’ April 2015 repeal of the city of Springfield’s sexual orientation and gender identity ordinance, which university officials say caused concern and confusion among lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender members of the campus community.

In that election, 51.4 percent of voters favored striking sexual orientation and gender identity from the list of protected classes on Springfield’s nondiscrimination policy in the areas of housing, employment and public accommodations.