Anti-discrimination law voted down

KALAMAZOO, Mich. (WOOD) - The Kalamazoo City Commission unanimously passed in December 2008 an ordinance that made it unlawful to discriminate against gay, lesbian and transgender individuals when it came to housing, employment or accommodation in restaurants and other public places.

The gay, lesbian and transgender community was pleased with the ordinance but opposition groups were not. In the allotted 20-day time period, the groups gathered enough petition signatures -- some 1,400 -- to place the ordinance back before the commission.

On Monday night, commissioners voted down the ordinance that was passed in December 2008. They did this, however, in order to come up with a new ordinance that still provides those protections against discrimination but is less ambiguous than the first one.

"My husband and I worked on this together. We believe that the Bible is the inspired word of God in its entirety," said Jan Stole, who is against the ordinance, said at Monday's meeting.

All of the commissioners stood in support for protecting the rights of the gay, lesbian and transgender community.

Commissioners had a decision to make. If they adopted the original ordinance, by law because of the opposition, the issue would have to be put on the ballot in the next election -- something commissioners did not want fearing it would further divide the community. Instead, they decided to scrap their original ordinance and reopen the debate on gay, lesbian and transgender issues.

"I find it reprehensible that a family organization represented by the attendance tonight would presume to deny me employment not because of a life choice but by a prescribed path of medical treatment," said Megan Finner, a transgender, said at Monday's meeting.

Each commissioner made it clear at the meeting that while they were striking down their original ordinance it was in no way a victory for opponents to gay, lesbian and transgender rights.

"We want to make sure we have an all inclusive ordinance that represents all sides of this issue," said Kalamazoo City Commissioner Stephanie Moore.

The commission's intent is to now come up with a new ordinance that in some form or fashion will protect the rights of all citizens of Kalamazoo.

The commission agreed to come up with a subcommittee to study the issues further and include each side in the discussion before creating a new ordinance to be brought before the city commission.