The Scottsdale,
Ariz., city council voted 4-3 Tuesday to include
workplace protections for LGBT city employees. Mayor Mary
Manross joined council members Betty Drake and Robert
Littlefield and Vice Mayor Wayne Ecton in voting for
the ordinance, while council members Ron McCullagh,
Tony Nelssen, and W.J. "Jim" Lane opposed it,
according to a press release from LGBT rights group
Equality Arizona.
The measure adds
protections for gender identity and sexual orientation
under the city's antidiscrimination law.
"A broad
collaboration of civil rights, faith, business, and
community leaders united in this effort to ensure all people
are guaranteed equality," Equality Arizona executive
director Barbara McCullough-Jones said in the release.
"We are grateful to those who supported our efforts
and look forward to strengthening our relationships
with our allies as we continue to advance the movement for
equality in Arizona."
According to KPHO
TV, the new ordinance goes into effect within 30 days.
Equality Arizona
is also working with the state's Department of
Administration to get domestic-partner benefits for state
employees. The benefits would be for all state
employees, including public university staff. (The
Advocate)
