Evansville’s City Council amended its human rights ordinance during a Monday night meeting.
The original ordinance included a section that gave the Evansville commission limited power to accept complaints about discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity.
The amendment deleted this section, which also limited the commission’s authority to notify respondents of the complaint and attempt voluntary investigation or voluntary mediation, according to the ordinance.
“This is a big step in the right direction at the local level, but it’s also a continued sign that we need to have strong statewide protections in place,” said Chris Paulsen, Freedom Indiana campaign manager, in a press release.
The Council voted 7-2, according to the Freedom Indiana press release.
The ordinance prohibits any discriminatory practice but excludes any nonprofits organized for fraternal or religious purposes, any school, education, charitable or religious institution, or any exclusive social club, corporation or association not organized for profit and not open to the general public.
Evansville scored a 47 on the Human Rights Campaign’s 2015 municipal equality index.
The City lost points in the category of non-discrimination laws, scoring only 15 out of 30.
“Without statewide protections, gay and transgender people have to depend on a patchwork of protections in places like Evansville,” Paulsen said. “Unfortunately, once they leave Evansville or any of the other cities and counties that have HROs, they’re once again subject to legal discrimination based on who they are.”
Lindsay Moore
