(Ames, IA) -- The Ames City Council appears set to adopt an ordinance granting civil rights protections based on gender status.
Several members of the community spoke in favor of the ordinance at last night’s city council meeting.
“I think the idea of communicating to the trans and nonbinary members of our community that they are whole people, they are valued, and that we see them is worth adopting, even if it’s just purely symbolic,” said Dave Peterson, an Ames resident.
No one from the public spoke in opposition to the proposal. The council discussed whether they have the legal authority to adopt the measure.
“Providing civil rights protections is not promoting an ideology; it’s simply guaranteeing people their rights,” said Ames City Attorney Mark Lambert.
With a 5-to-1 vote, the motion passed. An ordinance will now be drafted to detail who would be responsible for investigating discrimination cases and what penalties would apply.
The City Council says the earliest the ordinance could go into effect is February.
Photo: Ames City Council Meeting