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Adding Sexual Orientation to Protections Ordinance Passes 3-2 on First Reading |
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Compiled by GayToday
DeKalb, Illinois--After two public hearings and more than six hours of testimony,
the DeKalb City Council overwhelmingly passed an ordinance adding sexual
orientation to that city's human rights code.
With a vote of 7-1, the council made discrimination against gays and lesbians illegal in DeKalb. "This is a tremendous victory not only for gay and lesbian citizens of DeKalb but for all people who believe in fairness and decency," said Rick Garcia, director of the Illinois Federation For Human Rights, Illinois' statewide gay rights group. "The council demonstrated that anti-gay bias is not acceptable and will not be tolerated in DeKalb." The vote followed two public hearings at the DeKalb City Hall that were filled with rancorous debate. Opponents suggested that gays and lesbians should not be covered in the human rights ordinance because they can change their orientation, that they do not suffer discrimination and that homosexuality is a sin against God and a crime against nature. "One only had to listen to opponents of the ordinance to realize how important this legislation is," said Garcia. "The council turned a deaf ear to the opponents' lies, myths and stereotypes about gay people and voted to do the right and decent thing."
DeKalb joins the Illinois county of Cook and cities of Champaign, Chicago,
Evanston, Oak Park, LaGrange and Urbana in having sexual orientation as a
protected category in civil rights code. A bill to add sexual orientation
to the Illinois Human Rights Act will be re-introduced in the Illinois
General Assembly in January.
Cedar Rapids, Iowa
In Cedar Rapids, Iowa, City Council members voted 3-2 on Wednesday, adding a civil rights ordinance amendment that integrates protections against discrimination on account of sexual orientation.
Final passage of the Cedar Rapids ordinance—prohibiting discrimination in employment, housing, education and credit, amendment will require—if it supports passage on a second December 23 reading—a third and final vote on January 6. The addition of sexual orientation to Cedar Rapids' protective ordinance was introduced by the city's Civil Rights Commission. Responding to civil rights arguments, Mayor Lee Clancey, Safety Commissioner Nancy Evans and Parks Commissioner Dale Todd voted for the passage of the amendment. Mayor Clancey said that the ordinance was about fairness and was needed because "we don't live in a perfect world." Related Stories from the GayToday Archive: Miami-Dade Commissioners Ban Anti-Gay Discrimination |
