Filed by Ben Allen in Feature, Local News, Politics.
October 26, 2011

This story was written by KOSU’s Chris Hsu.

The Oklahoma City Council is delaying a decision on an amendment banning the discrimination of city employees based on sexual orientation. Councilman Larry McAtee says they need more information in order to cast a vote; however, Ryan Kiesel of Oklahoma’s American Civil Liberties Union said his group already has their mind made up.

“I have to give the benefit of the doubt to members of the council who wanted to study the issue further. Of course, here at the ACLU of Oklahoma, we don’t believe this issue needs any studying.  It’s a matter of equality.”

The ACLU is one among many Oklahoma-based civil rights groups who remain hopeful that the amendment will be adopted. The council is expected to vote on the amendment in three weeks.