Civil Rights Law Overturned But Likely to be Revisited

Fayetteville voters, in a Dec. 9 citywide referendum, repealed the civil rights ordinance that, among other things, protected members of the LGBT community from discrimination in employment, housing and public places.

Approved 6-2 by the Fayetteville City Council on Aug. 20, the ordinance was the first of its kind in Arkansas. But a ballot question committee called Repeal 119 was able to gather enough signatures to force a vote on the law and, by a tally of 7,523 to 7,040, had it overturned.

Passed after a public meeting that lasted about 10 hours, the ordinance was the source of discord between opponent Steve Clark, president and CEO of the Fayetteville Chamber of Commerce, and key supporters such as Fayetteville mayor Lioneld Jordan and G. David Gearhart, chancellor of the University of Arkansas.

There was also considerable rancor throughout social media. Supporters said the ordinance was necessary to protect the rights of all Fayetteville residents, not just those of the majority. Detractors said the law was poorly written and bad for businesses.

After the vote, city officials and the Human Rights Campaign, the Washington, D.C.-based gay rights advocacy group that helped run the pro-119 campaign, said the issue is likely to be revisited.

“All Arkansans should have the legal right to live safely within their communities, homes and workplaces, and the day will come soon when LGBT young people will wake up in this state and enjoy true equality under the law,” said Kendra R. Johnson, HRC’s director in Arkansas. “We’ll keep up the fight until that dream is achieved.”