(photo courtesy of Salina Post)

While Hutchinson is in the beginning stages of deciding whether to add sexual orientation and gender identity to protected classes, the Salina Human Relations Commission on Tuesday voted 7-1 to recommend to the Salina City Commission that they vote to add sexual orientation and gender identity to protected classes against discrimination. That would include employment, housing and public accommodations.

More than 2 dozen people, mostly those in support of the amendment attended the meeting according to the Salina Post. But no members of the public were allowed to speak.

Among items of the proposed changes in the ordinance in Salina will require vendors who the city does business with will have to include the changes in anti discrimination policies that they currently have. The city would also have up to a year to make the changes in contracts with vendors they do business with and that numbers several hundred. There would also be a 60 day waiting period after the ordinance is passed by the City Commission to educate the community what the changes mean.

As we have already told you, the Hutchinson Human Relations Commission has scheduled public forums on the same issue at Memorial Hall, 101 South Walnut on Tuesday, March 27th from 6:30 to 8:30 p-m, Thursday, March 29th from 3:00 to 5:00 p-m and Saturday, March 31st from 1:00 to 3:00 p-m.

Doors for the Hutchinson forums will open 30 minutes before each forum to allow audience members to sign up to speak.

No word on when the Salina recommendation might go before their City Commission.

*Randy Picking of the Salina Post provided the background of the Salina side of this issue