San Antonio Approves Non-Discrimination Ordinance (Gay Rights Measure)

The 11-member council of San Antonio has come to a decision with regards to the proposed and much controversial non-discrimination ordinance of the city. In an 8-3 vote, the non-discrimination ordinance of San Antonio has been approved.

 Although 180 other cities across the U.S. have already passed their own versions of non-discrimination ordinance protecting gays, the decision to pass the ordinance in San Antonio has become a much heated debate.

The whole city was practically involved throughout the process of passing the ordinance. Supporters and opponents rallied and flooded the city hall decked in opposing colors of red and blue respectively. Even members of the council had their very own say regarding the gay rights measure.

What was not expected though, is the national attention that the ordinance has gained. Professor Mike Jones of the University of Houston thinks that San Antonio mayor Julian Castro's involvement is partly to blame for the ordinance's nationwide coverage.

"An issue that otherwise would primarily be confined to local media coverage and some protests by social conservatives has taken on a state and even national level scope, and that's due to the fact that Julian Castro is involved," he told the New York Daily Times.

The non-discrimination ordinance protects individuals from San Antonio against biases such as sexual orientation and gender identity. It also includes protection from being discriminated due to race, religion and disability. According to the New York Daily Times, the non-discrimination ordinance will affect city employees, city contracts, housing and city officials as well as members of municipal boards and commissions. It also applies to restaurants and other business establishments.

Dallas News says that San Antonio's non-discrimination ordinance is modeled after those already in effect in Dallas, Fort Worth, El Paso, Houston and Austin.

Before the controversial vote on the passage of the ordinance Thursday, Mayor Julian Castro said:

"This is a city that belongs to everyone. There's no doubt this has stirred a lot of passions."

He also noted on past struggles in the U.S. regarding equality, says Dallas News. He cited slavery, civil rights and granting women's suffrage and said that: "Now, it's true of LGBT."