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Fayetteville votes in favor of non-discrimination LGBT protections
The residents of Fayetteville, Arkansas, have voted in favor of LGBT non-discrimination policies in regard to the employment, housing and public accommodation.
Yesterday’s election came just nine months after the city last voted on the issue. In December last year, a similar vote – with a similar 29% turnout – saw civil rights protections for LGBT people being repealed.
Yesterday’s vote saw the vote swing back in favor, by a margin of 53% to 47%. The results were announced at 10.15pm last night.
The city had originally introduced non-discrimination legislation in August 2014, but a campaign led by the Christian right led to last December’s vote to repeal.
‘Today the people of Fayetteville voted for acceptance over fear and showed that cities can ensure religious freedom while protecting the rights of each and every citizen,’ the Northwest Arkansas Center for Equality said in a statement.
‘People from all walks of life chose to lead Fayetteville and Arkansas toward a more inclusive future. History will remember this as a proud moment when businesses, religious leaders and everyday citizens worked together to unite our community, grow our economy and finally move Fayetteville forward.’
In February of this year, the Arkansas legislature passed an anti-anti-discrimination bill (SB 202) that prevents the state’s cities and counties from protecting the civil rights of LGBT people.
However, this new vote makes Fayetteville the fifth municipality – after Little Rock, Hot Springs, Pulaski County and Eureka Springs – to pass an ordinance challenging that legislation.
Arkansas state Attorney General Leslie Rutledge has said that the LGBT protections are not enforceable because of the state’s religious freedom bill. Lawyers in the municipalities concerned have argued that they are enforceable due to a loophole in the state’s anti-bullying statute.
It is likely that a legal test case will need to reach court before a judgment is decisively made on the issue.
In a statement to Arkansas Times, Kyle Smith, campaign chairman of For Fayetteville, said, ‘I am really impressed to see our community come together after the divisive 119 fight and pass ordinance 5781.
‘I was amazed at how our campaign grew with more and more local volunteers and donors pitching in every day. We had substantially fewer resources this time, but ran a much better and more positive campaign this time.’
Opponents of the proposed legislation tried to stop the election going ahead by seeking a last-minute injunction. However, this was rejected by Judge Doug Martin who said that seeking an injunction the day before the election was too late.
Main image: Brandonrush. Licensed under Public Domain via Commons.
The post Fayetteville votes in favor of non-discrimination LGBT protections appeared first on Gay Star News.
David Hudson
www.gaystarnews.com/article/fayetteville-votes-in-favor-of-non-discrimination-lgbt-protections/
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