Traverse City voters approve non-discrimination ordinance by two-to-one margin

TRAVERSE CITY- Voters overwhelmingly approved a measure to affirm the city's inclusive non-discrimination ordinance. The ordinance, which includes protections for LGBT citizens, was passed last year by the city council. An anti-ordinance movement had put a measure to repeal the ordinance on Tuesday's ballot. The measure passed by nearly a two-to-one margin, voting 2,818 to 1,661.
"I am really personally thrilled that we had such a large voter turnout and that the non-discrimination ordinance was upheld by such a tremendously large margin," said Denise Brogan-Kator, executive director of Equality Michigan. "That means to mean that the citizens of Michigan want ordinance like this one, and the legislators in Lansing should sit up and take notice when they are considering the HB5039 that would invalid ordinances like this one that was just reaffirmed by the voters."
"This is a wonderful victory. Traverse City voters have defended fairness and taken a strong stand for all families," said Diana Ketola, steering committee member for Traverse City Equality, the campaign group supporting the ordinance.