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Council Votes 6-1 for ordinance 2/26/02

Council tables HRC ordinance again, but... 1/8/02

HRC has first reading by County Council on 12/18/01

HRC withdraws plan to de-fund HRC 11/27/01

Joint Council/HRC Meeting 9/28/01

HRC reaffirms recommendation to include Sexual orientation 9/10/01

HRC Agrees to Review Inclusion of Sexual Orientation Despite Pressure by County Council 8/13/01

County Council Tables Hearing of Proposed Ordinance 3/6/01

HRC Unanimously Votes to Include Sexual Orientation 1/29/01

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HRC agrees to review sexual orientation clause despite pressure from County Council

by Mike Mahler, 8/15/01

The Erie County Human Relations Commission (HRC) met Monday, August 13th to discuss what to do with the clause in the most current proposed draft of Erie County Ordinance which includes sexual orientation as a protected class against discrimination in employment, housing and accommodations. Many thanks to those who made it to the meeting. Alas, Micheal and I weren't able to make it.

There was a write up in the Tuesday, August 14th edition of the Erie Daily Times by George Miller. (Click here to read the article.)

Nine people showed up, apparently all supportive. Quoted in the article were local family physician Sarah Aronson, David Martin of Venango County, and Rebecca Pruveadenti, president of the NWPA Chapter of NOW. They all provided intelligent and compassionate commentary.

The HRC didn't vote concerning sexual orientation at Monday's meeting. County Council is still pressuring them to drop it. Although it is important to stress that the HRC is very definitely supportive of including sexual orientation, they risk not being funded and not existing at all if an
updated ordinance is not passed by County Council.

The commission is scheduled to review the recommended changes at their September 10 meeting. Even if the HRC is pressured to remove sexual orientation, they have stated that they will still pursue including the clause in the future.

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