From day one, Sam’s administration has been committed to tackling gender and racial discrimination in government, and in St. Louis County at large. Every person - regardless of income, race, gender, or sexual orientation - has the right to control their own bodies, genders, sexuality, and lives as they see fit. The political will to support that freedom must come from the top, and be made a priority.
Sam’s first Executive Order prohibited the County from asking job applicants about their salary history, which often locks people into wage disparities, especially for minority and female applicants. Within the first two weeks of his administration, Sam created a new position to focus on equity: the Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion.
On the County Council, Sam led the Council to adopt the first minority participation program in public contracting and fought to protect anti-discrimination programs. As a state legislator, Sam co-sponsored the Missouri Non-Discrimination Act (MONA), which would add sexual orientation and gender identity to Missouri's Human Rights Act.