Springfield, Mo., voters repeal LGBT-inclusive non-discrimination ordinance

LGBTQNation ^ | 04/07/2015 | COLIN MURPHY

[E. Pluribus Unum]

Springfield, Mo.

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. — An LGBT-inclusive non-discrimination ordinance passed by the Springfield, Mo., city council last October, was overturned by voters on Tuesday.

With more than 97 percent of the votes tallied, 51.4 percent of voters opted to repeal the ordinance, while 48.5 percent voted to retain the measure.

The vote comes following months of campaigning by advocates and opponents of the measure, which added sexual orientation and gender identity to the list of protected categories in employment, housing, and public accommodations.

The city council approved the ordinance by a 6-3 vote on October 13.

But any celebration was short-lived when, in November, an opposition group submitted more than 2,600 signatures to repeal the expansion through a ballot referendum known as Question 1.

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Backers of the repeal effort said they didn’t want regulations expanding into their businesses, their churches, or their restrooms.

Springfield is Missouri’s third-largest city with about 165,000 residents.

[Nextrush]

Governor Nixon will denounce the vote, no doubt.

The Republicans will quiver and be silent.

I suspect the greatest wrath on this city will come from the business elites.

If the judiciary can be used effectively to overturn the vote, it will be.

[IronJack]

No hills to worry about when the snow flies.

[katiedidit1]

Murder rate is UP now and there is a crime all the time there now. I watch it on the local news here every morning