Bill would undo Missoula's equality ordinance

Source: Missoulian

The fight is on for local control and protections against discrimination in Montana.

Proposed legislation in Helena would undo the Missoula ordinance that protects people from being fired from their jobs or booted from their homes because of their sexual orientation or gender identity.

Headed for a hearing at 8 a.m. Friday before the House Judiciary Committee, the proposal doesn't pass legal muster with the ACLU of Montana. It also doesn't pass the sniff test with Missoula Mayor John Engen.

... The proposal in Helena would prohibit local governments from enacting "ordinances, resolutions, or policies that contain, as a protected class, any classification not specifically included as a protected class under state law."

Sexual orientation and gender identity and expression are not included in state statutes, and the measure would be retroactive.

Read more: http://missoulian.com/news/local/article_b98510ba-398f-11e0-b5af-001cc4c002e0.html