Debate Over LGBT Ordinance Roils San Antonio
A proposal to include sexual orientation and gender identity in San Antonio’s nondiscrimination policy has turned the city into a new gay rights battleground.
Amid a heated citywide debate that has drawn the attention of local, state and even national politicians, the San Antonio City Council has delayed a vote on the ordinance for weeks, though it is now scheduled to come before the council on Sept. 5.
The ordinance would prevent people who have demonstrated bias toward lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender individuals from serving in city positions and prohibit the city from discriminating against employees based on sexual orientation or gender identity. It would also prevent local business owners from discriminating against LGBT individuals.
San Antonio is one of the only major cities in Texas that does not have such a nondiscrimination policy. Austin, Houston, Dallas and Fort Worth have nondiscrimination policies that include some protections for LGBT individuals.
