BOWLING GREEN, OH (WTOL) - Late Monday night
The new ordinances widen the anti-discrimination laws when it comes to fair housing, education and employment.
They prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation, military status, and pregnancy as well as other information.
At a standing room only meeting, both sides debated for more than two hours.
City council unanimously approved the fair housing ordinance and passed the education and employment ordinance by a vote of 6 to 1.
For more on this story, see the story below posted Sunday.
By Dick Berry - email
Posted by Dave Dykema - email
BOWLING GREEN, OH (WTOL) - A group called "Equality BG" is asking the Bowling Green City Council to pass two ordinances expanding the categories of discrimination.
Toledo already has it. The vote in Bowling Green is expected Monday night. It has turned into a real hot topic.
"One person being turned away because they're being discriminated against is one too many," says Larry Sorrells, Bowling Green City Council.
The 8:00 pm City Council meeting has been moved to the Simpson Building on Conneaut Avenue because more than 200 people are expected.
Discrimination based on race, color or creed is against the law in Bowling Green.
But members of the B.G. City Council will consider two ordinances expanding discrimination to other categories.
One ordinance expands B.G.'S Fair Housing Code. The other, policies of employment, education and public accommodation.
Among the groups protected: gays, transgenders, military personnel, pregnant women and people with HIV.
"This type of legislation, in a way, I think is a furthering of equality and progress of ideas. Whether Bowling Green really needs it or not? I can't say," says John Zanfardino, Bowling Green City Council.
"A person right now could be fired for being gay. There would be no recourse," says Sorrels. He goes on to say when council hearings were held on the ordinances they heard from discrimination victims. "They didn't say it was common, but there were instances of it occurring."
So how is a discrimination case resolved?
A complaint is filed with the Bowling Green City Administrator. He gets the two sides together and arbitrates the issue.
"It may be denied. Mostly likely not an acknowledgement but I think in either case, it would go away," says Zanfardino.
If approved, Bowling Green would join Toledo and 17 other municipalities in Ohio with an unlawful discrimination ordinance.
