Voters in Salina, like in Hutchinson, will decide on the fate of an ordinance protecting people from discrimination based on their sexual orientation.
The Salina ordinance protects people from discrimination based on their sexual orientation or gender identity in areas like public employment or housing.
The Wichita-based Kansas Family Policy Council and Awaken Salina submitted the petition calling for the ordinance's repeal or a public vote.
The ordinance went into effect in June following a 3-2 vote by the City Commission.
During a meeting on Monday afternoon, comissioners voted to include it on the November 6 ballot. The question on the ballot will read:
"Shall the following be adopted? An ordinance of the city of Salina, Kansas repealing Ordinance 12-10639 which was titled ‘An Ordinance Amending Chapter 13 of the Salina Code Pertaining to Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action and Repealing Existing Chapter 13.’; passed by the governing body of Salina, Kansas on May 21, 2012 to be effective June 4, 2012."
If a majority of people vote ‘yes,’ protections for gays, lesbians, bisexuals and transgendered people will be eliminated and the issue won’t be able to be brought up for another 10 years unless voters bring it back to the ballot. A ‘no’ vote will keep the protections in place.
Also on November 6, voters in Hutchinson will decide on the fate of a similiar ordiance there. The Kansas Family Policy Council challenged that city's anti-discrimination ordinance as well.
