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Tuesday, November 22, 2005
Ind. Law - More on advocates seek to revive Marion Co. gay-bias ban
"Ordinance banning gay bias revived: Democratic sponsor already has 12 votes lined up for measure" is the headline to this story by Brendan O'Shaughnessy on the front of today's Indianapolis Star local section. It follows on his story from Sept. 19 headlined "Advocates seek to revive proposed gay-bias ban." (For background see this ILB entry from 4/26/05.) Some quotes from today's story:
Seven months after a proposal to ban discrimination against gays in the workplace and housing market failed to pass the City-County Council, supporters reintroduced the measure Monday night. * * *Jackie Nytes, the Democrat who also sponsored the first gay-rights effort in April, now has 12 sponsors, including herself. She would need three more votes to win a 15-vote majority in the 29-member council and hopes to land those through steady lobbying over the next few weeks. "There's so much support for it in the community, I'm surprised some council members are hesitating," Nytes said, adding she has collected 1,200 letters backing the plan.
The same proposal to ban discrimination based on sexual orientation or identity failed in April on an 18-11 vote that crossed party lines.
Current laws protect all workers from discrimination based on race, religion, age and several other factors. The anti-discrimination ordinance would protect gay and transgendered people from being fired or denied housing because of their sexual orientation or gender identity.
City and state employee hiring policies already include such protections, and the ordinance would extend the same to any businesses with six or more employees, excluding religious institutions and certain nonprofits. In Indiana, Bloomington, Michigan City, West Lafayette and Fort Wayne already have passed similar ordinances.
Posted by Marcia Oddi on November 22, 2005 06:53 AM
Posted to Indiana Law