Disputed ordinance put on hold
A controversial anti-discrimination ordinance for Butler was tabled on a 4-1 vote by city council Thursday night.
Councilman Corey Roche proposed the delay.
“I'm concerned the two sides (of the motion) are still too far apart for this ordinance to do any good,” Roche said. “There's obviously some education that needs to be done.”
He also cited a case that will go before the U.S. Supreme Court in October. A Colorado baker named Jack Phillips is challenging a state law that declared he was out of bounds to refuse to bake a cake for a same-sex couple.
“I don't think we should make a decision until we find out what the Supreme Court decision is going to be,” he said.
Councilman Kenny Bonus, along with Roche, voted yes to table the motion, and agreed with Roche's point about the Supreme Court case.
“It's tough to say what should happen at the local level when it's being debated at the national level, as well,” Bonus said.
The ordinance was initially proposed to council by Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays in 2011, and was brought up again in the summer of 2016.
The ordinance, in part, states: “In order to ensure that all persons, regardless of actual or perceived race, color, sex, religion, ancestry, genetic information, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, familial status, marital status, age, mental or physical disability, use of guide or support animals and/or mechanical aids enjoy the full benefits of citizenship and are afforded equal opportunities for employment, housing and the use of public accommodations, and to have equal access to post-secondary educational institutions, it is necessary that appropriate legislation be enacted.”
People for and against the ordinance packed council chambers Thursday. Those for the ordinance believe it will prevent discrimination in Butler. Those against it are concerned it will limit religious and business freedoms in the city.
Those for the ordinance point to the clause that exempts religious organizations, while those against it have noted that the clause doesn't allow for an exemption for religious organizations funded in whole or in part by the government.
Council members Kathy Kline and Michael Walter both said they were prepared to vote on the motion Thursday, but voted to table it out of respect for Roche.
Mayor Tom Donaldson was the lone “no” vote, and responded to Roche's concerns about the community being widely divided on the issue.
“Unfortunately, I don't believe there's ever going to be both sides together on this,” he said. “The battle lines are very far apart.”
Should the ordinance be again put on council's agenda, a vote for the introduction and first reading of the ordinance would have to pass before the second reading and adoption of the ordinance was voted on the following month.
