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Health & Fitness

Local Women Support Royal Oak Human Rights Ordinance

A cross-section of influential women from the City of Royal Oak have come together to urge citizens to vote “Yes” on Proposal A and uphold the Royal Oak Human Rights Ordinance.

On March 4, 2013 the Royal Oak City Commission voted 6-1 to adopt a Human Rights Ordinance that would ban discriminatory practices in employment, housing, and public accommodation on the basis of actual or perceived race, national origin, religion, color, sex, age, height, weight, pregnancy condition, marital status, physical and mental limitations, source of income, family responsibilities, educational association, sexual orientation, gender identity, and HIV status.

On Tuesday, November 5, the voters of Royal Oak will decide whether to uphold the ordinance.

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“We believe that all families should be respected in Royal Oak. All children in our community should have an opportunity to be happy, regardless of if they are lesbian, gay, straight, bisexual, or transgender” said local mother, Danielle Atkinson.

Since the City Commission passed the Human Rights Ordinance in March, seven other municipalities in Michigan have adopted local nondiscrimination ordinances including Battle Creek, Kalamazoo Township, and Pleasant Ridge.

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Jeanne Sarnacki, former Royal Oak City Commissioner and past president of Royal Oak Woman’s Club had this to say, “There has been a lot of misinformation and scare tactics, but I trust the voters of Royal Oak to see through the lies and vote ‘yes’ on Proposal A. Similar versions of this law have passed in 28 other cities in Michigan and hundreds of other cities across the country without any of the terrible things opponents claim coming true.”

Earlier this month Sarnacki and Atkinson signed on to a letter of influential Royal Oak women who have publicly endorsed voting “Yes” on Proposal A to support the Human Rights Ordinance.

Also adding their names to the letter are:

  • Pat Paruch
  • Mildred Palmer
  • Libby Richards
  • Kelly Muller
  • Heather J. Muller
  • Laurie Eisenhardt
  • Lisa Bradford

Those interested in learning more can visit OneRoyalOak.com.

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