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Monday, September 19, 2005

Ind. Law - Advocates seek to revive proposed gay-bias ban

A story by Brendan O'Shaughnessy on the front page of today's Indianapolis Star, headlined "Advocates seek to revive proposed gay-bias ban," includes these quotes:

The battle over a proposal to ban discrimination against gays in the workplace and housing market in Marion County is quietly heating up, nearly five months after local officials voted against the idea. * * *

In the weeks after the council finishes its budget vote scheduled for today, it may revisit the issue, inviting a national culture war into its normally quiet chamber. * * *

The debate is familiar to most Americans: One side says homosexuality tears at the foundation of American families and shouldn't become a special legal class equivalent to race or gender. The other says gays and lesbians deserve equal protection and freedom from persecution over their sexual orientation.

A proposal to ban discrimination based on sexual orientation or identity failed in an 18-11 City-County Council vote in April 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 transgender people from being fired or denied housing because of their sexual orientation or gender identity.

Talley was one of five Democrats to vote against the measure last spring, maintaining then that he had seen no evidence of discrimination against gays and lesbians. * * *

Scott Schneider, a Republican City-County Council member and an opponent of the ordinance, said there is little evidence of a problem.
"Homosexuality is a lifestyle choice, and to elevate that to protected status is not good law," he said. "I'm sure people have been fired because of tattoos or jewelry they wear, but we shouldn't make that a special legal class." * * *

But Nytes [the ordinance's sponsor, Jackie Nytes] and Scott Keller, the only Republican supporter of the ordinance in the spring, know they need just four votes to turn an 18-11 defeat into a 15-14 victory. They already have picked up one vote in Republican Lance Langsford, who said his military and personal experiences have convinced him the country needs more tolerance.

Keller said most of the opposition e-mails he receives are form letters generated by conservative lobbying groups and sent by an out-of-state computer server.

Ordinance supporters are planning more small-group meetings with lawmakers who opposed the legislation last spring because they say the sessions allow a more personal connection than e-mails.

I am trying to locate a copy of the proposal, and will post it here. [Here it is.]

Posted by Marcia Oddi on September 19, 2005 07:57 AM
Posted to Indiana Law