And So It Begins
(I mentioned this a few days ago)
Gay bias measure presented today
BY DAN KLEPAL | ENQUIRER STAFF WRITER
Discrimination against gays, lesbians and transgender people would be illegal in Cincinnati if some City Council members have their way.
Councilman David Crowley - along with Laketa Cole, Chris Bortz and Vice Mayor Jim Tarbell - will introduce an ordinance in today's Law and Public Safety Committee that would make any such discrimination illegal. If passed, that language would be added to the city's human rights ordinance, which protects people against discrimination on the basis of age, race, handicap or gender.
Crowley said the time is right for this ordinance, since Article XII was repealed by city voters in November 2004.
Passed in 1993, Article XII was an amendment to the city charter that prohibited city government from treating sexual orientation as a protected class. Article XII drew national attention to the city, causing some to view Cincinnati as intolerant.
"This is something that brings us into the 21st century," Crowley said.
Harold Keutzer, president of the board of directors for the Gay and Lesbian Community Center, said the action was a long time coming. "It's a step in the right direction for our community," he said. "This is about equal treatment."
But Phil Burress, president of Citizens for Community Values, said he wished council would put the issue before voters first. He promised a response: It will take gathering 7,000 signatures in 30 days to force the issue onto a ballot, he said.
"I thought council had grown up and realized there are a lot more important things they are facing. This sets the city back more than a decade," Burress said.
Crowley said he expects seven or eight council members to support the ordinance.
Gay bias measure presented today
BY DAN KLEPAL | ENQUIRER STAFF WRITER
Discrimination against gays, lesbians and transgender people would be illegal in Cincinnati if some City Council members have their way.
Councilman David Crowley - along with Laketa Cole, Chris Bortz and Vice Mayor Jim Tarbell - will introduce an ordinance in today's Law and Public Safety Committee that would make any such discrimination illegal. If passed, that language would be added to the city's human rights ordinance, which protects people against discrimination on the basis of age, race, handicap or gender.
Crowley said the time is right for this ordinance, since Article XII was repealed by city voters in November 2004.
Passed in 1993, Article XII was an amendment to the city charter that prohibited city government from treating sexual orientation as a protected class. Article XII drew national attention to the city, causing some to view Cincinnati as intolerant.
"This is something that brings us into the 21st century," Crowley said.
Harold Keutzer, president of the board of directors for the Gay and Lesbian Community Center, said the action was a long time coming. "It's a step in the right direction for our community," he said. "This is about equal treatment."
But Phil Burress, president of Citizens for Community Values, said he wished council would put the issue before voters first. He promised a response: It will take gathering 7,000 signatures in 30 days to force the issue onto a ballot, he said.
"I thought council had grown up and realized there are a lot more important things they are facing. This sets the city back more than a decade," Burress said.
Crowley said he expects seven or eight council members to support the ordinance.