The city of Charleston, South Carolina has passed two ordinances prohibiting housing and employment discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender expression, according to The Advocate. The passage of the laws is a sign of real progress in a mostly anti-gay rights state.
Charleston is the second city in the GOP-dominated state to pass such laws, following in the footsteps of the state capitol, Columbia.
The ordinances were presented to the mayor's office in August by members of Charleston's Alliance For Full Acceptance (AFFA), SC Stonewall Democrats, SC Log Cabin Republicans, the American Civil Liberties Union and South Carolina Equality and passed on Tuesday.
South Carolina Equality lauded the news, saying,
"All across South Carolina, we are celebrating this historic victory for all families as Charleston joins Columbia as the second city in the state to enact such nondiscrimination ordinances. These pro-business ordinances are consistent with the values of Charlestonians; they send the clear message that Charleston welcomes families from all walks of life.
The new laws passed the Charleston City Council without opposition. One councilman abstained from voting, saying penalties for violating the laws were not high enough, reports Q-Notes.
"The passing of these ordinances is consistent with Charleston’s historic reputation as one of America’s friendliest cities and a place that is welcoming to all people,” Victoria Middleton, executive director of the ACLU of South Carolina. “And they also affirm the constitutional principles shared by all Americans of non-discrimination and equality under the law.”
The passage of the new law is marks significant progression in conservative South Carolina, which is viewed as one of the most anti-gay states in the U.S. Charleston and Columbia are two of the largest cities in the state. Similar measures in smaller municipalities statewide have not been considered to date.
South Carolinians approved a Constitutional same-sex marriage ban by a whopping 78% majority in 2006, making it clear most people in the state oppose same-gender unions. However, Senator Robert Ford (D-Charleston) told local news outlets shortly after the passage of the ban that he felt it was unconstitutional.
Ford introduced the Civil Union Equality Act in the state Senate in January of this year. However, the measure has yet to make it to the state's Senate judiciary committee. Ford says he "vows to keep pushing the issue until we get the change we need and to satisfy the gay and lesbian community."
Click "Subscribe" above to have articles emailed to you. Your email address will never be shared with a third party.
For all things LGBT-related worldwide, visit my Home Page.
Comments
You are still home to Joe Wilson, and other hard core Republicans, and still fly the Battle flag over your capital. I still find your state too conservative for this gay man. And thanks to Joe Wilson's outburst, will never step foot in South Carolina again.
What's so gay about non-discrimination?
Sorry, but South Cackalacka is, and will alway be, a bible thumping, uninteresting, De-class-A, useless, republican black hole, fly-over state, that isn't any different than Texas, Alabama, Arkansas, Tennessee, Kentucky, West Virginia, Ohio, Missouri, Kansas, Idaho, New Mexico, North Cackalacka, Georgia, almost all of Florida, and a few other wastelands. While one tiny town has partially stepped into 90's, it's orangutan citizens are it's weakest link!
We in Ireland have outlawed direct and indirect discrimination against homosexuals (religious organisations are exempted) since 1989. We didn't legalise homosexual acts until 1993 after the European Court of Human Rights ruled that homosexual acts must be legal. The law hadn't been enforced at the time and when we legalised homosexuality the government made the age of consent equal to that of heterosexual acts. Membership of the European Union requires that homosexual acts be legal and that discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation be outlawed. Ireland, however, goes even further by having suprisingly gay friendly laws. We would even probably have gay marriage if it weren't a fact that the government is afraid of divisive referendum campaign which it thinks would be required to legalise gay marriage although I don't think that a referendum is required by the constition as, in my opinion the very difficult to read the constitution to ban gay marriage.
Got something to say?
Examiner.com is looking for writers, photographers, and videographers to join the fastest growing group of local insiders. If you are interested in growing your online rep apply to be an Examiner today!