Deep rifts: Residents pack Missoula council meeting on anti-discrimination ordin

[Shana A]

Deep rifts: Residents pack Missoula council meeting on anti-discrimination ordinance

By KEILA SZPALLER of the Missoulian | Posted: Monday, April 12, 2010 11:35 pm

http://www.missoulian.com/news/local/article_e3821a34-46bf-11df-9664-001cc4c03286.html

Urging him to halt his "ignorant and hurtful" crusade, the daughter of one of the most outspoken critics of Missoula's proposed equality ordinance came out Monday night as a member of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community.

"Dad. I strongly disagree with the way you have been portraying the LGBT community," said Taryn Nash, who identified herself as an LGBT member to her father for the first time during the public meeting of the Missoula City Council. "You have gone too far. I will not sit back any more and be quiet. I love you because you are my dad, but I have lost respect for you."

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Equality ordinance: Big crowds gather in Caras Park, outside council meeting

By BETSY COHEN of the Missoulian | Posted: Monday, April 12, 2010 8:30 pm

http://www.missoulian.com/news/local/article_05bf6fbc-4697-11df-aec8-001cc4c002e0.html

Hundreds and hundreds of Missoula residents gathered in Caras Park early Monday evening to shout their support for the city's proposed equality ordinance.

Meanwhile, citizens opposed to the ordinance - about 75 people and a few families - gathered outside Missoula City Council chambers to let their objections be known.

In both venues, the hand-held signs and buttons pinned to coats told the story.

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Testimony begins, yea and nay, on Missoula's proposed equality ordinance

By KEILA SZPALLER of the Missoulian | Posted: Monday, April 12, 2010 8:30 pm

http://www.missoulian.com/news/local/article_d485a68e-46a3-11df-8ba4-001cc4c002e0.html

A throng of people packed Missoula Council Chambers on Monday night, and spilled into the hall during a public hearing on the city's proposed anti-discrimination ordinance.

By one rough count, 166 audience members flooded the room. Some stood along the walls, others sat on the floor, and more stood in the hall or watched the meeting on a live television feed in the adjacent conference room.