Last night, Helena took another step toward equality. An LGBTQ anti-discrimination ordinance was passed by Helena’s City Commission unanimously with five votes. The citywide ordinance prohibits discriminatory acts in employment and housing based on sexual orientation and gender identity/expression. However, it only provides some protections in public accommodations. Bill sponsor Katherine Haque-Hausrath was unable to convince her colleagues to eliminate an amendment requiring transgender people to use the locker room that matches their “anatomical sex regardless of their gender identity.” Jamee Greer, Montana Human Rights Network’s LGBT organizer, called the amendment “cowardly.”
While we are aware of the hard work ahead, we are grateful to all the community members who attended and/or testified at the hearings and to the staff at the Montana Human Rights Network for their leadership on this ordinance. Together, we will continue to move our community forward.
(Image: Facebook, Bobbie Zenker)