Final answer:
A local city law prohibiting discrimination based on sexual orientation protects LGBTQ individuals from unfair treatment. These measures are critical for equality and have historically been enacted by cities when state and federal laws lagged. Supreme Court rulings like Romer v. Evans and Bostock v. Clayton County have supported such protections on a wider scale.
Step-by-step explanation:
If a local city passes a law prohibiting discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, it means that the city has enacted legal measures ensuring that people cannot be unfairly treated or marginalized due to whom they are attracted to or have relationships with. These types of laws are crucial in protecting the rights of LGBTQ individuals and fostering an environment of equality.
Considering the history of LGBTQ rights, local ordinances have often led the way in anti-discrimination, especially when state or federal policies have been slow to evolve. In 1972, municipalities like San Francisco and Ann Arbor pioneered such local protections in employment and housing, and by 1977, over forty cities and counties had joined in. The importance of these local measures was reinforced in 1996 with the Supreme Court ruling in Romer v. Evans, which overturned a Colorado amendment that attempted to deny protection from discrimination to LGBTQ individuals, reaffirming the equal protection principles for this community.
On a federal level, significant progress has been made in recent years to protect LGBTQ employees from workplace discrimination, such as the landmark ruling in Bostock v. Clayton County, which assured that Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 includes sexual orientation and gender identity. Nonetheless, challenges remain, such as in areas of housing discrimination and the increase in anti-transgender legislation. Yet, with local laws like the one in question, progress towards comprehensive equality continues to be made, reflecting changing public attitudes and the persistent efforts of activists and supportive lawmakers.