A bill aimed at expanding workplace discrimination protections for state employees appears to be losing traction.

The bill would add sexual orientation and gender identity to other nondiscriminatory categories, including race, ethnicity and religion.

Fifty-eight cities and counties in Georgia have similar protections for lesbian, gay bisexual and transgender persons.

While neither Hall County government or the city of Gainesville have such protections on the books, officials said they consider sexual orientation and gender identity to be protected status.

“We have policies that address discrimination and harassment of the protected classes under federal law,” said Hall County Human Resources Director Bill Moats. While we don’t have a specific policy that addresses the (proposed) state law ... our harassment policy would cover issues that create a hostile or uncomfortable work environment.”

Gainesville Human Resources Director Janeann Allison said, “We currently would not discriminate against anyone on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity.”