Hutchinson voters will be asked to decide whether to add protection
Hutchinson Will Vote On Anti-Discrimination Law
Hutchinson voters will be asked to decide whether to add protections against discrimination for gays, lesbians, bisexuals and transgender residents to the city’s anti-discrimination law.
The Hutchinson City Council has taken the issue of discrimination, base on sexual orientation or gender identity, to a public vote.
After some very spirited discussion, the council first approved on a 3-2 vote to rescind the current ordinance, baring discrimination in housing or employment, based on sexual orientation or gender identity. The council then approved 5-0 to rescind a second petition that would add to the current ordinance to include public accommodation, and send it to the public for a vote in the November Presidential election. The council took this action in what is now an all or nothing matter for both sides of the issue.
Either the public will approve an expanded version of the sexual discrimination ordinance, or it will go back to the way it was before the Councils first action in June.
Councilman Bob Bush made the motion stating it was a way to keep the ballot simple and that multiple questions could confuse the public. That was met with strong objections from both Councilman Ron Sellers and Councilwoman Cindy Proett who stated that both questions needed to be on the ballot so the voting public would be able to understand the ramifications of both questions being approved, or voted down.
But, in the end the matter was approved, with Mayor Dave Razo agreeing that the issue would be easier to understand if just one question was put to the public.
Razo, you’ll remember, approved the limited ordinance in June which passed on a 3-2 vote.