Traverse City, Mich., Votes to Keep Nondiscrimination Law

Voters in Traverse City, Mich., have overwhelmingly voted to keep a nondiscrimination ordinance that protects LGBT people from bias.

The National Gay and Lesbian Task Force reports that, by an almost 2-to-1 ratio (2,818 to 1,661), residents of Traverse City voted to keep protections in housing and employment for gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people. The NGLTF worked in the northern Michigan city to make sure voters got to the polls to keep the ordinance. The Traverse City Record-Eaglereports that the vote cements a move by city commissioners earlier this year to enact the nondiscrimination ordinance; conservative opponents later rose up to force the failed referendum.

"The people of Traverse City have sent a clear message that they value their LGBT friends, neighbors, co-workers and family members and don't want to see them left vulnerable to discrimination," Rea Carey, NGLTF executive director, said in a press release. "This victory creates a stronger and more welcoming city not only for LGBT people and their families, but for everyone. We were proud to have partnered with Traverse City Equality in the nation's only LGBT-specific ballot measure campaign this election. This is a victory for Traverse City and for our common humanity."