The 7-1 City Council vote last month makes Cincinnati the second city in the nation (New York City was first) to enact this kind of law. Statewide, New York and California also have passed such legislation, while Kentucky is contemplating it. The governors of New York and California signed laws prohibiting discrimination based on hairstyle in July, The National Law Review reports. The Cincinnati law means violators would face a $100 per day fine that can go as high as $1,000. Alicia Reece, a former Cincinnati City Councilwoman, praised Councilman Chris Seelbach for introducing the law.
”This is a bold step," Reece said. "It's also a change in time, where women of color are saying, 'Hey, we can wear our hair and honor culture and still be in the workplace.' It's always been a whisper, but now women are speaking up. We're not going to let anyone tell us how we can wear our hair.”