Commissioners in Bay County voted 5-2 to move forward a ban on discrimination against people based on sexual orientation and gender identity at their Jan. 14 commission meeting. The ordinance, which only impacts county-owned entities, county-controlled entities, and contractors who work with the county will go to a public hearing expected to be on Feb. 11.
Commissioner Donald J. Tilley, D-6th District, sponsored the ordinance and Bay County Executive Tom Hickner favors it. Hickner has spoken publicly about having a gay son.
The two dissenters were Commissioner Vaughn Begick, R-3rd District, and Michael E. Lutz, D-7th District. Lutz told MLive "I'm still against the principle of extending additional rights to sexual gender."
Organizers from One Bay City have been supportive of the ordinance, and have had speakers share their stories at public meetings including the one Jan. 14.
To learn more about One Bay City, like them on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/OneBayCity.
For more on human rights ordinances across Michigan, including how to get involved in your area, go to http://www.unitymichigan.org.
Bay County Moves Forward in Ordinance Process
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