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Michigan City Rejects Anti-Discrimination Ordinance; Alaska City Passes Ban

By Howard M. Friedman

The Jackson, Michigan City Council on Tuesday defeated by a vote of 5-2 a proposed anti-discrimination ordinance. The proposed law would have banned discrimination on the basis of "race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, height, weight, condition of pregnancy, marital status, physical or mental limitation, source of income, family responsibilities or status, educational association, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression or HIV status." Yesterday's Jackson Citizen-Patriot reports that opposition centered around the sexual orientation language and concern over potential of lawsuits and added costs for business owners and employers. The proposal had been brought forward by Jackson's Human Relations Commission. An attempt ten years ago to pass similar legislation also failed.

Meanwhile, in Anchorage, Alaska, the Anchorage Assembly Tuesday night, by a vote of 7-4, approved an anti-discrimination ordinance that bans discrimination in employment, credit, public accommodations and housing based on sexual orientation or gender identity. However it contains exemptions for religious organizations. The Fairbanks News-Miner reports that Mayor Dan Sullivan has not decided whether he will veto the measure.

Full post as published by Religion Clause on August 13, 2009 (boomark / email).