Fayetteville, Arkansas, passes LGBT non-discrimination ordinance by vote of 6-2

After more than 10 hours of public debate and testimony by over 100 community members, the Fayetteville, Arkansas City Council voted to not pass an LGBT non-discrimination ordinance by a vote of 6-2.

The legislation, Ordinance 119, makes discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender expression and gender identity illegal in matters of employment, housing and public accommodations.

Such protections are not available on a federal level. Eighteen states plus Washington, D.C., ban discrimination in employment and housing on the basis of both sexual orientation and gender identity and 17 of those states also prohibit discrimination in in public accommodations on the basis of both sexual orientation and gender identity, according to the Human Rights Campaign.

The legislation will take effect September 20, 2014.

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