A. AIDS is a deadly disease which affects a substantial number of Sonoma County and Sebastopol residents.

B. AIDS is caused by infection with human immune virus (HIV, AIDS virus) which is transmitted through significant exposure to certain body fluids, most notably blood and semen. The human immune virus cannot be transmitted through the handling of food by infected persons.

C. Nevertheless, unreasonable fear of contracting the disease has caused landlords, employers and providers of services to discriminate against persons believed to be infected with the AIDS virus.

D. Such discrimination causes additional burdens to be placed on those persons or entities who do not discriminate, particularly on public and private nonprofit groups engaged in health and social services to persons with AIDS.

E. Such discrimination by landlords, employers and providers of services gives those who engage in discriminatory practices an unfair competitive advantage over those who do not.

F. Such discrimination is against the public policy of the State of California and the United States, but State and Federal enactments do not address all aspects of such discrimination, nor do they preempt local legislation. Local action is therefore necessary to address the local impacts of such discrimination.