Thursday, January 01, 2009

Petitions Filed to Stop Gay Rights Ordinance

Grassroots citizens opposed to the ordinance recently passed by the Kalamazoo City Commission to ban "discrimination" based on "sexual orientation" or "gender identity" have submitted signatures of Kalamazoo residents to stop the ordinance.

Petitions filed to stop expansion of protected-class status in Kalamazoo

About 1600 signatures were submitted. They still must be verified by the city clerk. At least 1273 valid signatures are needed.

If there are enough valid signatures, the ordinance will be suspended. The city commission will have to either repeal the ordinance or put it on the ballot for citizens to decide. As the initial ordinance was passed 7-0, the latter is likely.

This promises a major battle, as billionaire gay-rights activist Jon Stryker lives in Kalamazoo. An attempt to overturn a "domestic partner" benefits ordinance failed by a narrow 55-45 margin several years ago in Kalamazoo.

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