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Sexual orientation and gender identity discrimination protection won Milwaukee County Board approval Thursday, following a flare-up over whether such protection could be misused by sex offenders.

The board voted 12-6 in favor of adding sexual orientation and gender identity and expression to the county's anti-discrimination ordinance.

County Executive Chris Abele backs the measure.

"Not only is adopting such an ordinance the right thing to do, but ensuring protections for all people adds to the economy of Milwaukee County," Abele said.

The change was sought by Fair Wisconsin, an advocacy group for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people.

Supervisor Deanna Alexander said while she backs the discrimination protection, she wanted to ensure that it would not be used by male pedophiles or sex criminals cross-dressing as a way to get inside women's public restrooms.

"I want to be very inclusive of the LGBT community," but she doesn't want the protection to be used by someone to commit a crime, she said.

An amendment by Alexander aimed at making that exception was voted down and drew denunciations from County Board Chairwoman Marina Dimitrijevic, the author of the anti-discrimination proposal, and other supervisors.

Dimitrijevic told Alexander that bringing up pedophiles was offensive in this context. Alexander then sought to have Dimitrijevic stand aside as chairwoman during debate on measure, but Dimitrijevic refused.

Supervisor David Bowen said references to pedophiles and sex criminals was fear mongering by opponents, many of whom called supervisors this week.

"I understand there are people in the community who have been misdirected intentionally by right-wing sources," Bowen said.

Supervisors Alexander, Mark Borkowski, Patricia Jursik, Jim "Luigi" Schmitt, Anthony Staskunas and Steve F. Taylor voted against the measure. Supervisors Bowen, Gerry Broderick, David Cullen, Dimitrijevic, Jason Haas, Willie Johnson Jr., Theo Lipscomb Sr., Michael Mayo Sr., Khalif Rainey, Peggy Romo West, Russell Stamper II and John Weishan Jr. voted in favor.

The board also voted to hold an advisory referendum in November on whether the U.S. Constitution should be amended to deny free speech rights for corporations.

But the board sidetracked a second referendum proposal for the November ballot asking voters whether they support using tax money to help build a new arena for the Milwaukee Bucks.

Supervisors voted 13-5 in favor of a referendum on the question of amending the Constitution, an issue aimed at negating the 2010 Citizens United Supreme Court decision. The ruling gave corporations and unions the right to spend freely on political ads and candidate appeals.

The county referendum question would ask voters whether the Constitution should be changed to say only human beings, not corporations, are entitled to free speech rights and that limits on campaign expenditures don't limit free speech.

The board adopted the same referendum proposal in 2012, but Abele vetoed it based on the cost. Adding the measure to the November ballot is expected to cost an extra $25,000 to $40,000.

The proposed referendum on using tax money for a new arena was sent back to the board's judiciary committee on an 11-7 vote, after some supervisors said the announced sale of the Milwaukee Bucks changed the situation.

Bucks owner Herb Kohl announced he is selling the team for $550 million to hedge-fund investors Marc Lasry and Wesley Edens. Kohl and the buyers pledged to provide $200 million for a new sports arena to replace the BMO Harris Bradley Center.

Schmitt said it was pointless to hold a referendum on whether to provide tax support for an arena because the answer would obviously be no.

Weishan argued in favor of holding an arena tax referendum. He said a no vote would show that a sports arena shouldn't leapfrog the need for more tax support for county parks and transit.

Supervisors also approved, 16-2, having county workers provide voter registration assistance to people seeking county social services or visiting the county clerk's office. The employees providing the voting help would go through a training session.

Rainey said the help was especially important in light of changes by the state he said would curb voting. The Legislature this spring approved a measure to limit early voting hours in Milwaukee. Supporters of the change said it would provide better uniformity in voting hours around the state.

Twitter: twitter.com/SteveSchultzeJS