Council OKs new LGBT protections

[Omaha Steve]

Source: Omaha World Herald

A divided Omaha City Council approved a controversial measure Tuesday to add new legal protections against discrimination for gay and transgender residents.

Passed on a 4-3 vote, the council ended weeks of scrutiny and intense lobbying that exposed fractures within the city's business and religious communities. The Greater Omaha Chamber of Commerce decided to remain neutral on the issue, citing a split in its membership.

Garry Gernandt, the South Omaha council member who voted against a similar proposal in 2010, cast a surprise swing vote in favor of the ordinance.

"We are all part of the human race," he said.

FULL story at link.



Read more: http://www.omaha.com/article/20120313/NEWS01/120319882#council-oks-new-lgbt-protections

[anti-alec]

1. Heading your way tomorrow!

Off to North Platte, Nebraska, then to western Iowa for a stay in Council Bluffs.

Good luck there, Steve. I'll try to see if I can find your sign when I get through in Omaha... will I?

[Omaha Steve]

7. I'm doing all my printing at the same time for a price break

Flyers, yard signs, thank you cards. I just need to lock down my fund raiser date, and off to the printer they go. I have a group of volunteers that will assemble my yard signs.

[freshwest]

2. WTG.

[shcrane71]

3. Councilman Thompson, who voted against the ordinance, teaches an anti-bias course at UNO.

Did Thompson also say that lbgt people should move out of Omaha?

[William769]

4. Recommended.

[RKP5637]

5. K&R !!! n/t

[FedUp_Queer]

6. I can't wait...

Until the first heterosexual person is fired for being heterosexual. Then heterosexual folks will understand that protection based upon "sexual orientation" protects people from termination based upon their sexual orientation, which includes "heterosexual." These laws are not about "protecting LGBT people." They are about protecting everyone from termination based upon their "sexual orientation."

[shcrane71]

8. Thank You Equal Omaha, Citizens for Equal Protection, and allies.

A statement:

http://voiceomaha.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/2012.03.13-EEO-Statement-Omaha-Supports-Equality.pdf