City of Tempe, Arizona, passes LGBT anti-discrimination ordinance on vote of 7-0

Within hours of Governor Brewer's veto of the anti-gay "License to Discriminate" bill, the city of Tempe, Arizona has passed an LGBT anti-discrimination ordinance, the Arizona Republic reports:

The council’s 7-0 vote was “another action that shows we don’t discriminate in our community,” Mitchell said Thursday. “We’re moving in the right direction in terms of equality.”

The city ordinance bans discrimination in housing, employment and accommodations at restaurants and hotels, but includes exceptions for religious organizations and social clubs.

Businesses or individuals that discriminate in Tempe on the basis of gender identity, sexual orientation, race, color, gender, religion, national origin, familial status, age, disability and U.S. military veteran status face a civil sanction with a fine up to $2,500.

In addition to Tempe, three other Arizona cities - Phoenix, Tucson and Flagstaff - have passed ordinances that ban LGBT discrimination. However, outside of those four cities it is still legal to fire someone for being gay or deny them public accommodations.