Neither the Memphis City Council nor Mayor A.C. Wharton feels its important to protect LGBT people from discrimination. Therefore, Janis Fullilove (pictured), who last month received death threats and a dead cat on her lawn over her sponsorship of the anti-discrimination legislation, has withdrawn it, the Commercial Appeal reports:
"The Tennessee Equality Project and councilwoman Janis Fullilove this morning withdrew the proposed ordinance, which would prevent the city from discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity in hiring or promotion of employees, and an accompanying resolution that would have included the ordinance’s language in city contracts. Fullilove and TEP members said it was clear the ordinance, which was scheduled for the second of three readings this afternoon, lacked support from the 13-member council and Wharton’s administration, which said two weeks ago that it favors a more general ordinance approved by the Shelby County Commission earlier this year. Michelle Bliss, vice chairwoman of the Shelby County Committee of the TEP, said council members were making decisions based on 'fear and prejudice.' … 'At this time we don’t think we can get a fair hearing,' said Bliss. Fullilove said she was disappointed that she had to withdraw the legislation."
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