Oklahoma City Council today approved an ordinance re-establishing the City’s Human Rights Commission after being repealed nearly 30 years ago.

“Today, for the first time in a generation, the people of Oklahoma City live in a community with a Human Rights Commission,” said Oklahoma City Mayor David Holt. “This brings our City in line with most large American cities, including Tulsa. My gratitude and congratulations to the task force, its co-chairs, city staff who worked on the proposal, and the City Council. Development of a proposal that could pass a politically diverse Council required reliance - once again - upon our City’s rich tradition of compromise. Our special political culture endured. The Oklahoma City Way triumphs once again. Most importantly, we have validated that all are welcome in Oklahoma City, and all are loved. In OKC, human rights for all is something we stand for.”

The commission will be staffed by the Municipal Counselor’s Office and a compliance officer appointed by the City Manager.

Among other duties, the Human Rights Commission will be responsible for addressing alleged harm to people who have been discriminated against because of their race, color, religion, creed, sex, gender, national origin, age, familial status, genetic information, or disability related to employment, housing and public accommodations under the Oklahoma Anti-Discrimination Law.

The Human Rights Commission will be made up of nine members. Each of the eight City Council members will recommend to the Mayor one person to represent their ward. The Mayor will appoint one person at large, who will serve as the commission chair. One member must be a lawyer.

Initially, members representing even-numbered wards will serve for two years and members representing odd-numbered wards will serve for three years. Following the initial service, terms will be for three years.

Some of the Commission’s responsibilities include:

• Coordinating with the community, including public and private agencies, to promote human rights.
• Working with law enforcement agencies by referring violations or apparent violations of anti-discrimination laws to them.
• Mediating complaints alleging violations of the anti-discrimination law.
• Recommending studies or surveys that promote anti-discrimination policies.
• Producing an annual report of the commission’s activities.
• Establishing advisory committees to help the commission.
• Participating in at least one educational event annually that promotes human rights.

The City solicited public comments on the ordinance from May 24 to July 5 and received input from 122 people.

The City’s previous Human Rights Commission met from 1980 until it was repealed in 1996.

Task Force Background

Mayor David Holt created the Human Rights Commission task force in 2020 and named the following co-chairs: Ward 7 Councilwoman Nikki Nice, Maurianna Adams and Dr. Andrea Benjamin.

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Media Contact:

Kristy Yager

(405) 297-2550

kristy.yager@okc.gov