Without Regard To

This is San Francisco. You’ve probably seen non-discrimination statements covering a rich variety of factors: race, religion, ancestry, national origin, marital status, gender, age, and sexual orientation.

Here’s one you probably haven’t seen. To all of the above, it adds: physical disability, mental disability, medical condition, veteran status or reliance on public assistance.

All of these factors are related to poverty. People are often poor because they have a physical disability, a mental illness, a chronic disease, or wounds or illness picked up in the line of duty. In the U.S., the poor are not thought of as targets of discrimination. Economic security – food, clothing, housing – are not thought of as rights.

The statement belongs, of course, to St. Anthony Foundation. Furthermore, St. Anthony’s does not discriminate against people with poor literacy, if it does not interfere with the performance of their jobs. St. Anthony’s will assist employees who reveal problems with literacy to enter an adult literacy program.

We call ourselves an inclusive community. Every day, in every way, we try to mean it.