http://www.omaha.com/article/20101026/NEWS01/710279957/0#discrimination-plan-draws-crowdPublished Tuesday October 26, 2010
By Maggie O'Brien
People lined up at Tuesday's Omaha City Council meeting to weigh in on a proposal that would give new protections to gays, lesbians, bisexuals and transgender people.
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Councilman Ben Gray wants to amend municipal ordinances to make those groups a protected class under city code — protection they don't currently have under state or federal law.
The council held a public hearing Tuesday on proposal by Councilman Franklin Thompson to put the issue to a public vote, in the form of an amendment to the City Charter.
“I find it offensive that we would equate this with civil rights,” Pastor Cedric Perkins, pastor of Pilgrim Baptist Church said. “Those rights were based upon a person's color of their skin, which they could not change.”
One woman asked the council to approve Gray's proposal and not put the matter up for a public vote. She said she has been fired for being gay.
FULL story at link.