Helena Independent Record.ComCity Commissioner Ellison has concerns with anti-discrimination ordinance By SANJAY TALWANI Independent Record | Posted: Saturday, July 21, 2012 12:00 am
http://helenair.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/city-commissioner-ellison-has-concerns-with-anti-discrimination-ordinance/article_dd2a88e0-d2f6-11e1-9175-001a4bcf887a.htmlIt may be a few months before Helena city commissioners have a draft copy of a proposed ordinance prohibiting discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity.
The city attorney still has several details to work out, and Commissioner Dan Ellison this week outlined his concerns about the proposal, questioning why the city should extend the protections to gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people in employment and accommodation within the city limits, and not to other groups that might suffer discrimination.
"I'm adamantly opposed to discrimination on any basis," Ellison said Friday.
But he questioned whether the city should extend protection against discrimination to what he called a small special-interest group.
"Why we would limit it to that, and not extend it to many other behaviors and characteristics?" he asked.
Specifically, Ellison mentioned the bald, the left-handed, the obese, those who stutter, veterans and service members, single mothers and others who may have experienced some kind of discrimination in their lives.
"I'm concerned about that and want to have further discussion about that," he said.
