The Murray City Council will vote tonight whether to advance an updated human rights ordinance that would protect people of different sexual orientations and gender identities.
Human Rights Commission Chair Jody Cofer Randall said the ordinance originally adopted in 1970 has since undergone no significant updates. The Human Rights Commission voted unanimously on Monday to introduce the new ordinance to the board tonight .
Murray City Council member Greg Taylor said in his 4 years of services he’s never had so many citizens contact him about an issue.
“I think there’s a lot of people that are concerned that it’s overreaching and its unnecessary for a town like Murray,” Taylor said. “We’ve probably gotten over fifty emails and I’ve gotten several phone calls. They’re concerned that this is going to affect business owners in a negative way and it’s going to open the door for harassment of our citizens if they don’t agree with the gay and lesbian lifestyle. I’m going to be voting no tonight.”
Mayor Bill Wells has worked with the Human Rights Commission to develop the ordinance and said he thinks there is a good chance it will advance. Murray City Council member Butch Sergeant said he wants to make sure the council doesn’t rush through the decision.
If the city council approves the ordinance tonight the city attorney will prepare it for two additional readings and votes that would make the ordinance official.
