Bid to repeal Arkansas anti-discrimination limits advances

Little Rock, Ark. (AP) — An effort to repeal a new Arkansas law preventing local governments from extending anti-discrimination protections to gays and lesbians moved closer toward appearing on next year's ballot Thursday after the state's attorney general gave initial approval to the referendum.

Attorney General Leslie Rutledge certified the proposed ballot measure, which would have voters decide whether to keep the law prohibiting cities and counties from banning discrimination not covered in state law. Arkansas's civil rights law doesn't include sexual orientation or gender identity.

Rutledge's certification means supporters of the measure can begin gathering the roughly 51,000 signatures from registered voters needed to put the proposal on the 2016 ballot. The signatures must be submitted by late July, when the law is set to take effect.

David Couch, the Little Rock attorney who submitted the proposal, said he hoped to begin gathering signatures as soon as this weekend.

"I think there's an overwhelming amount of support not only from the groups of people who might be affected by the law, but the support from the business community has been surprising," Couch said. "I think the people who do business in this state realize this law could be a black eye for this state."

Arkansas was the second state after Tennessee to enact such a restriction on local governments, and it came in response to a Fayetteville anti-discrimination ordinance that was later repealed by that city's voters. Residents of the northwest Arkansas city of Eureka Springs are voting next month on whether to keep a similar ordinance prohibiting the city and businesses form discriminating based on sexual orientation or gender identity.

The lawmaker behind the state law said he wasn't worried about the possibility of it being repealed.

"The threshold is so high I would be surprised if they would be able to get the signatures," Republican Sen. Bart Hester said. Even if they do, "I don't think there's any chance they'll be successful."

If the referendum qualifies for next year's ballot, the law would be held on hold until voters have a chance to weigh in on it.

The referendum campaign is the latest challenge to a law that was cast as anti-gay. Little Rock officials voted this week to prohibit the city and its vendors from discriminating against lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people.

Although the law allows cities and counties to adopt anti-discrimination policies for its own employees, Little Rock's ordinance goes a step further with the restriction on vendors. The city has argued the move is legal, noting Arkansas has anti-bullying and domestic violence shelter laws that prohibit discrimination against LGBT people.

Rutledge's office has declined to comment on whether Little Rock's ordinance violates the law.

By Andrew DeMillo, Associated Press. Copyright 2015 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

The Gayly – April 24, 2015 @ 10:30am.