Montana’s Possible Rollback of Local LGBT Protections Reflects National Trend

[Shana A]

Montana's Possible Rollback of Local LGBT Protections Reflects National Trend
by Kilian Melloy
Wednesday Feb 23, 2011

http://www.edgeboston.com/news////116557/montana’s_possible_rollback_of_local_lgbt_protections_reflects_national_trend

Missoula, Montana, is a university town with spectacular mountain views and a live-and-let-live attitude that found expression last year in a city ordinance banning discrimination against GLBTs in housing and employment.

But in Helena, the state capitol, the right of cities like Missoula to protect minorities is under challenge: Republican state lawmakers are mulling a law that would take away the power of cities to decide such matters for themselves.

--------

Montana House Approves Bill To End Missoula's Gay Protections
By On Top Magazine Staff
Published: February 23, 2011

http://ontopmag.com/article.aspx?id=7639&MediaType=1&Category=26

The Montana House on Tuesday approved a bill that would repeal a gay protections law in Missoula, the state's second largest city.

Republican Representative Kristin Hansen's bill cleared a key House panel on Monday.

If approved, the measure would effectively overturn Missoula's 2010 ordinance banning discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity (transgender protections) by prohibiting local governments from enacting protections beyond those in the state's Human Rights Act, which does not include sexual orientation and gender identity.

[LordKAT]

Why would any state make a law not allowing a city to protect it's citizens? This is messed up. So when does federal law start saying states can't protect their citizens? This is bonkers.

[Vicky]

An element of terrible humor comes into my mind on this.  With all the cows that are in that state, will they attemp a bill that will prevent milk exported from the state to be "homo".

[Dawn D.]

This, from a party that portends to ascribe to the theory that less government is better government! This is also the party that likes to promote "Local Control". What a bunch of hypocrites! I'm am loath to admit that I was once a Republican! It's okay though! I am far happier being independent!


Dawn

[tekla]

Hell, they are full on Teabagger crazy up there.  Here's some other stuff that is being proposed.

Their state would be a place where officials can ignore U.S. laws, force FBI agents to get a sheriff's OK before arresting anyone, ban abortions, limit sex education in schools and create armed citizen militias.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110224/ap_on_re_us/us_tea_party_world