Arkansas Town Defies State Ban, Protects LGBT Citizens

[William769]

Conway, Ark., became the state's second LGBT-affirming city Tuesday, but the fate of the town's nondiscrimination policy is uncertain in the wake of a statewide antigay law approved the same day.

An Arkansas town just passed an ordinance that bans discrimination against city employees on the basis of both sexual orientation and gender identity. But the policy could become moot in the wake of a statewide antigay bill that became law Tuesday.

The City Council in Conway, Ark., met Tuesday night to review the emergency measure and voted 6-2 in favor of adding workplace protections for LGBT city employees, according to local outlet Log Cabin Democrat.

Conway's ordinance updates the city's equal employment opportunity statement to include "sexual orientation" and "gender identity or expression" as characteristics that may not be used to discriminate in hiring. The city, which is home to the University of Central Arkansas, has a population of more than 63,000 people, according to U.S. Census estimates from 2013.

Mayor Tab Townsell said he was "proud "of the outcome of yesterday’s vote, telling the Democrat he found it a necessity to give explicit protections to people of the LGBT community in Conway. The emergency ordinance will take effect immediately, allowing it to be enacted before a statewide ban on pro-LGBT protections takes effect this summer.

http://www.advocate.com/politics/2015/02/25/arkansas-town-defies-state-ban-protects-lgbt-citizens

[Behind the Aegis]

1. Good on Conway!

When I drive through again, I will stop for gas and food.

More reads needed!

[Cha]

2. Kick.. mahalo William!