More than 100 people filed into Cuyahoga County Council鈥檚 general meeting Tuesday night to discuss an ordinance aimed at expanding rights and protections for the county鈥檚 LGBT population.
For more than four hours, county residents brought up religion, children, and personal stories during the public comment period for the ordinance.
鈥淲hat this vote means today 鈥� when it passes 鈥� is that I will finally have the rights that arguably, probably most of you have never had the misfortune of not having,鈥� said Madison Woods.
One woman, Deandra Smith, voiced the argument of a number of people who opposed the legislation, saying it did not align with her religious beliefs. 鈥淭his is not what the city of Cleveland needs right now,鈥� said Smith. 鈥淣ot in our workplaces, it doesn鈥檛 belong in our church, it doesn鈥檛 belong in our public facilities. Any place where this is enforced is going to automatically become a danger.鈥�
Smith and several others at the meeting expressed concern that businesses would be required to allow transgender women in women鈥檚 restrooms.
In voting no on the ordinance, Councilmember Jack Schron worried about the impact the legislation might have on small businesses.
鈥淭hese businesses, they don鈥檛 have a human resources department,鈥� said Schron. 鈥淭hey don鈥檛 have a team of lawyers that can be sitting here trying to create a definition -- they cannot understand how to apply the definition of gender identity.鈥�
Schron wanted to see a religious liberty exemption included in the legislation.
Local restaurant owner Bobby George spoke in support of the proposal, a contrast to his father鈥檚 comments at a previous council meeting.
鈥淎lthough I love my father, I disagree strongly on this issue,鈥� said Bobby George. 鈥淢y father does not not speak for me, nor does he speak for any of my businesses.鈥�
George鈥檚 father Tony had threatened to move his restaurants and bars out of the county if the ordinance passed.
Several other Northeast Ohio cities have passed similar legislation, and representatives from a few of those cities spoke out in support, including residents from South Euclid, North Olmsted, and Cleveland.
Council member Sunny Simon sponsored the ordinance.
鈥淲e鈥檙e here to move us forward into a place of true humanity where we all can work hopefully together without discrimination and be leaders in the state of Ohio,鈥� said Simon before her vote. 鈥淲e鈥檙e at a special place in Cuyahoga County where we can do this.鈥�
