In Indiana, Goshen’s city council rejected adding sexual orientation and gender identity to its civil-rights ordinance, the Chicago Tribune reported. Almost 150 people spoke over six hours before the council voted 4-3 to not add the categories to its statute.
Councilman Chic Lantz was concerned that approving the proposal would subject the city to a lawsuit, saying, “I don’t want Goshen to have to go through that.”
The debate among Goshen’s residents was just as involved as the final vote, with people on both sides of the debate. Gina Liechty said, “The communities which are thriving and growing are those that are welcoming to minorities and various sexual orientations and women.” Others said they did not want to support sinful behavior.
E-mail inquiries sent to Goshen’s mayor were not addressed before Windy City Times went to press.