If you live in Springfield, Missouri, and wish to engage in housing or hiring discrimination against someone based on sexual orientation or gender identity, fear not. Voters
repealed an anti-discrimination ordinance on Tuesday with 51.4 percent of the vote (according to unofficial results).
"The churches were startled and alarmed and began to get involved (in repealing the ordinance). They were the target," said Calvin Morrow, one of the leaders of a Christian group which supported repeal.
He questioned whether discrimination against gay and lesbian residents actually happened in Springfield and said the fight over the ordinance had left the city divided.
Oh, isn't that too bad. The city is divided because of your fight to repeal an ordinance in order to protect your ability to discriminate without fear of punishment. Horrible, isn't it, how these things divide us? And, uh, if you really question whether discrimination actually happens, then what does it matter if it's prohibited?
And if you're an LGBT person in Springfield, now you know that, while your city council tried to protect you, there are groups in your city that cared enough to fight for the right to discriminate against you—to fire you or refuse to hire you or refuse to rent you a place to live based on who you are.