Mayor AC Wharton is leading the way to make Memphis a City of Choice  - a city that “engages the broad community and at all times respects and embraces diversity.” Mayor Wharton realizes that attracting and retaining creative talent must be an integral part of building the Memphis economy:

Research by Richard Florida indicate that the leading indicators of a metropolitan area’s economic success are a large gay population and a high concentration of artists and foreign-born residents. In a report Florida helped write 10 years ago for Shelby County Government, the City of Memphis and the Memphis Area Chamber of Commerce Florida recommended our community promoting tolerance in the following ways:

1. Visibly and officially embrace diversity as an economic and civic development goal that is as good for the whole community as it is for those who are labeled as “minority.”
2. Expand the definition of diversity as an economic and civic “good” to include all people with talent, whatever their dress, religion, musical tastes, sexual orientation, ethnicity, or country of origin.

Communities that seek to be economically successful must officially respect and embrace diversity regardless of race, religious preference, age, sex, creed, disability, ethnicity, national origin, sexual orientation or gender identity or expression. The City of Memphis must take a stand against unfair biases in the workplace to make Memphis a welcoming place for all.

Send a message of encouragement to Mayor Wharton asking him to lead our city to success by embracing all people who choose Memphis. Ask him to urge the Memphis City Council to enact an employment non-discrimination ordinance with truly inclusive workplace protections.

Message

Subject: Mayor Wharton -- Take the lead on inclusive workplace protections in Memphis!

I am writing to ask you to take the lead in making Memphis a place that respects and embraces its diversity. It’s time for Memphis to become a first class city for people who want to live and work in a diverse and tolerant community. I urge you to take a bold step for inclusion, and make Memphis a safer city for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people. The nation is now watching Memphis to see how the Mayor of and the City Council responds to this call to action. Please send a clear message to the Memphis City Council that you believe Memphis City Government must set an example as a place where all people who seek to earn a living, provide for their families, and contribute to their communities should be respected in the workplace regardless of race, religious preference, age, sex, creed, disability, ethnicity, national origin, sexual orientation or gender identity or expression. Urge the Memphis City Council to enact an employment non-discrimination ordinance with truly inclusive workplace protections. Respectfully and sincerely,