Lewisburg City Council Approves Human Rights Ordinance

Lewisburg City Council members have approved a human rights ordinance after an ongoing debate over the measure.

The Register-Herald reports more than 500 people attended Monday’s public hearing, which lasted for five hours, on the proposed Ordinance 254.

The ordinance amends the city’s existing policy which established a Human Rights Commission that was created to “encourage mutual understanding and respect among all racial, religious and ethnic groups within the City and… endeavor to eliminate all discrimination by virtue of race, creed or religious belief.”

As amended, the ordinance prohibits discrimination in employment, housing and public accommodations, which are described as human rights and civil rights of all persons “without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, ancestry, sex, age, blindness, handicap, or sexual orientation and gender identity.”