by Rex Wockner
National News Briefs
Anchorage Mayor Dan Sullivan on Aug. 17 vetoed a gay rights bill that had passed the Anchorage Assembly (city council) 7-4.
"My review shows that there is clearly a lack of quantifiable evidence necessitating this ordinance," Sullivan said. "My review also shows that the vast majority of those who communicated their position on the ordinance are in opposition."
The measure banned discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity in employment, housing, public accommodations and finance, with certain exemptions for religious groups and churches.
The city council would need to find one additional vote to override the veto, and would have to do so by Sept. 7.
Anchorage is home to 40 percent of Alaska residents.
