Council moves ahead with ordinance protecting sexual orientation

LIMA - City Council went forward in guaranteeing city employees protection from discrimination based on sexual orientation Monday, authorizing legistation that should be ready for review next month.

The Charter Review Commission discussed protecting sexual orientation within the City Charter several times before ultimately deciding on a sweeping anti-discrimination policy that allowed both more flexibility to possible changes in state and federal law and kept the issue from becoming a potential sticking point when the Charter amendments are put to voters in November.

"I think this was a good resolution because it makes it law and it addresses the concern that the Charter Review Commission had that some voters might vote against the Charter changes just off this one issue," said Councilman Tom Tebben. "I'm pleased with the way it's playing out and I'll be interested to see the legistaltion the law director comes back with."

The 4th Ward councilman, who has strongly backed including the policy, opened Monday's meeting by reading from Procter & Gamble's anti-discrimination policy, which includes sexual orientation.

After brief discussion in which Councilman Ray Magnus suggested the proposed ordinance also include prohibiting discrimination from the city against contractors based on sexual orientation, the council asked Law Director Tony Geiger to draft an ordinance.

The final legislation will still need to be approved by the council.

There are other municipalities within the state that have sexual orientation and gender identity as protected classes, but Tebben said he felt Procter & Gamble's was more in tune with what the city is looking to achieve.

"I think sometimes we need to look to businesses to model the government after," he said. "In this particular case the language that was in there could be very easily put into an ordinance and mirror what Procter & Gamble said."

City Council plans to hold a public hearing for the Charter changes July 13 before approving them for the November ballot.