Source: Asheville Citizen-Times, WRAL
RALEIGH -- State officials Monday removed a ban on anti-gay discrimination from an online copy of the state's personnel handbook.

The prohibition was in one of two copies of the handbook posted online. The removal came after Republican House Minority Leader Paul Stam questioned why the ban appeared in the handbook.

North Carolina law does not prevent bias in state employee hiring and discipline based on sexual orientation or gender identity.

The State Personnel Commission's attempt to change that was rejected in January by the state Rules Review Commission as overstepping the other appointed board's authority.

The panel said state lawmakers needed to approve the ban before the policy is changed.

“Somehow it mistakenly got put on the Web site," personnel office spokeswoman Margaret Jordan said.

The rule that appeared in the online handbook is similar to anti-discrimination measures that have failed in the legislature, Stam said.

Full article: Ban on anti-gay discrimination taken off personnel handbook on state site | Asheville Citizen-Times
 NC Personnel Handbook With Gay-bias Ban Removed From Web Site | WRAL