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San Antonio Includes LGBT Members In Non-Discrimination Policy

Tyler Pratt/KUT News

All of Texas’ biggest cities have passed ordinances that ban discrimination against people based on sexual orientation – except for San Antonio. That changed on Thursday when the San Antonio City Council voted 8 to 3 to adopt its own policy. Hundreds of people testified for several hours on Wednesday and Thursday.

Texas Public Radio reports:

The ordinance, which goes into effect immediately, prevents the city and local businesses from discriminating against LGBT individuals. Proponents have claimed that before the ordinance, LGBT individuals could be kicked out of public places at the owner’s discretion. In a separate motion, the Council also voted to add veteran status to the city’s non-discrimination policy.

San Antonio Mayor Julian Castro supported the ordinance. Attorney General Greg Abbott, who is running for Texas governor, sent a letter to Castro, saying the ordinance would force the city into costly litigation.

Texas Public Radio in San Antonio has more details in this report.

Eric Aasen is KERA’s managing editor. He helps lead the station's news department, including radio and digital reporters, producers and newscasters. He also oversees keranews.org, the station’s news website, and manages the station's digital news projects. He reports and writes stories for the website and contributes pieces to KERA radio. He's discussed breaking news live on various public radio programs, including The Takeaway, Here & Now and Texas Standard, as well as radio and TV programs in New Zealand and the United Kingdom.