Dubuque Finally Adds Sexual Orientation to Human Rights Law
Advocate.com
The
Dubuque, Iowa, city council has approved the addition of sexual
orientation as a protected class under the city's human rights
ordinance. The council took less than a minute to approve an amendment
to the ordinance Monday night. The amendment had been rejected three
times by the council since the 1980s.
This
provides legal recourse for anyone denied housing, employment, credit,
education, or service because of sexual orientation. Judy Haley Giesen,
chairwoman of the Dubuque Human Rights Commission, said the council's
approval of the amendment was long overdue. “It has been a long
journey, with many people working on this diligently,” Giesen said.
“There's great joy in my heart and also great joy for the gay and
lesbian community in the fact that they know they live in a more
hospitable city and have equal rights,” she said.
The
council voted 6–1 to approve the amendment. Councilwoman Pat Cline was
the lone no vote. “I believe this belongs in the state legislature,”
she said.
(Source)
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