DETROIT (WWJ) The Royal Oak City Commission will consider drafting an ordinance Monday night to prevent discrimination based on sexual orientation and a host of other things like height and weight.
It’s being proposed by City Commissioner Jim Rasor, who also has a law practice in Royal Oak.
“I own a business and I am a job creator, I could walk in tomorrow to one of the young attorney’s office and say ‘Your heterosexual lifestyle is not compatible with this firm’s goals’ — He has no remedy under federal or state law for that,” Rasor said.
Voters overwhelmingly rejected a similar proposal in 2001, but Rasor thinks attitudes have changed since then. Ann Arbor, Grand Rapids, Kalamazoo, Birmingham and Ferndale already have a Human Rights Ordinance.
“We are one of the pre-eminent communities in southeastern Michigan that is diverse and eclectic and cosmopolitan. Beaumont Hospital and 89 percent of the Fortune 500 companies have non-discrimination in their employment agreements that I’m seeking to put in Royal Oak’s,” Rasor said.
Rasor, who has also pushed for marijuana legalization efforts, doesn’t think federal non-discrimination laws are enough. Federal laws apply to minority groups and cover housing and employment.
“I’m a landlord, I could put a sign in front of one of my units, and on that sign I could say ‘No heterosexual people allowed,” the attorney said. “Is that what we want in Royal Oak? No.”
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