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Voters in Salina and Hutchinson decided on the fate of ordinances protecting people from discrimination based on their sexual orientation on Tuesday.
Salina
The Salina ordinance would have protected people from discrimination based on their sexual orientation or gender identity in areas like public employment or housing. The ordinance was defeated by a vote of 54% (9,079 votes) to 46% (7,686).
The Wichita-based Kansas Family Policy Council and Awaken Salina submitted a petition calling for the ordinance's repeal or a public vote. The ordinance originally went into effect in June following a 3-2 vote by the city commission. In September, commissioners voted to include it on the November 6 ballot.
Tuesday's vote means the issue won’t be able to be brought up for another ten years unless voters bring it back to the ballot.
Hutchinson
Voters in Hutchinson defeated that city's anti-discrimination ordinance. The vote was 58% (8,110 votes) against and 42% (5,783) in support of the ordinance.
The measure, passed earlier this year, added protections for sexual orientation to the city's anti-discrimination code. The ordinance protected people from discrimination in things like employment and public housing.
Hutchinson residents signed two competing petitions on the ordinance. One petition called for the ordinance to be repealed; the other allowed for the ordinance to be expanded. The petitions required the city council to take action within 20 days, or set each issue for a public vote within 90 days.
In September, the Hutchinson City Council voted on the first petition, deciding 3-2 to repeal the current ordinance. The council then voted unanimously on the second issue to put the question on the ballot in November.
The Kansas Family Policy Council praised the results in both cities.
