When the chairman of the Missouri Commission on Human Rights spoke last week against adding sexual orientation and gender identity to the state’s non-discrimination law, the remarks provoked outrage among Democrats and LGBTQ advocates.
But the comments from the chairman, Timothy Faber, have also turned a spotlight on the commission itself, which lawyers and employment discrimination experts say is a broken agency unable to effectively respond to allegations of discrimination.
The 11-member commission has only four members currently, blocking the panel from taking votes. Its professional staff continue to conduct investigations and process paperwork, but lawyers and court documents paint a picture of a beleaguered agency where paperwork isn’t always turned around on time and investigations are often a cursory exercise.
“They couldn’t treat my clients any worse than they currently do,” said Gene Graham, a Kansas City area attorney who specializes in employment discrimination and suggested the commission tries to please the business community at the expense of victims of discrimination.
“I’m very contemptuous of that agency and the political agenda that seems to be in control down there, which is to throw a wrench into every case and do everything you can to create hurdles for victims of discrimination to have to jump over just to get a little justice.”
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