Sources: Nondiscrimination ordinance has the votes to pass

A bill to provide an update to Metro’s nondiscrimination ordinance has enough votes to pass second reading at tonight’s Metro Council meeting, according to sources.

The bill would make it unlawful to discriminate against Metro workers, or those seeking employment with the government, on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity.

The bill passed first reading, but faced opposition when it was on second reading at the Aug. 6 Council meeting. The bill’s primary sponsor at-large Councilwoman Megan Barry requested a deferral, but District 33 Councilman Robert Duvall pulled the legislation in an attempt to defeat it. The deferral motion eventually passed, but only with a 22-13 vote.

It seems the bill’s 10 co-sponsors have since secured at least 21 commitments to support the legislation. The bill needs 21 votes in order to pass third reading, but only a simple majority to pass tonight’s vote.

Since the Aug. 6 meeting, a second bill was filed by District 32 Councilman Sam Coleman, which states Metro would not discriminate against workers for any non-merit-based reason. Coleman said his bill was an alternative for those Council members who did not want to create new protected classes for sexual orientation and gender identity.

Already, the Metro nondiscrimination ordinance makes it unlawful to discriminate on the basis of race, gender, color, national origin, religion, age and disability. Those who feel like they have been discriminated against can file complaints and seek remedy from the Metro Human Relations Commission.

Metro workers have been able to file complaints of discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation for the past four years, but the commission could do nothing more than record the complaints. So far just eight complaints have been filed. Proponents of Barry’s legislation say this is because no real remedy was offered under Metro law, but opponents claim the lack of complaints shows discrimination against workers because of sexual orientation is not a problem.

As was first reported by The City Paper, Mayor Karl Dean has offered his support for Barry’s nondiscrimination ordinance.