Beth Duckett

The Republic | azcentral.com

The Scottsdale City Council recently signed the unity pledge supporting workers' rights for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people.

Some say the pledge could be the next step in considering an anti-discrimination ordinance for the LGBT community.

Mayor Jim Lane voiced concerns that it could cause controversy, such as what happened with Senate Bill 1062.

The Scottsdale City Council's recent approval of a unity pledge supporting workplace equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people has supporters asking if an anti-discrimination law could be next.

On the heels of Tempe's voter-approved ban on LGBT worker discrimination last week, some say Scottsdale's pledge could be the first step toward considering an anti-discrimination ordinance, which would offer further legal protections for the LGBT community.

"I think we have some momentum with the unity pledge and certainly with unanimous support from the council," Scottsdale Councilwoman Virginia Korte said. "I think that reflects an openness to an ordinance."

Tempe voters last Tuesday overwhelmingly passed a measure banning discrimination against LGBT city workers.

Earlier this year, the Tempe City Council approved an ordinance outlawing discrimination against the LGBT community in areas of housing, employment and public accommodations, such as hotels and restaurants. It included exceptions for religious organizations and social clubs.

The Phoenix City Council included similar protections for gays, lesbians, bisexuals and transgender people when it expanded the city's anti-discrimination law in 2013.

Scottsdale Mayor Jim Lane, who signed the unity pledge, expressed reservations about an anti-discrimination ordinance, noting that it hasn't been discussed yet by council members.

"I would rather communicate how positive I feel the unity pledge is," Lane said.

Lane said focusing on the pledge is "a very positive approach" and "eliminates (Senate Bill) 1062 kind of divisiveness," referring to the controversial bill passed by the Legislature but vetoed by Gov. Jan Brewer this year.

The bill, widely seen as a response to Phoenix's anti-discrimination law, would have offered a legal defense for individuals and businesses facing discrimination lawsuits if they proved they had acted on a "sincerely held religious belief.''

"I wouldn't want to have that show," Lane said. "I don't know I would want to get into a situation to talk about how it is divisive and a '1062'-type of approach to it."

Korte noted that Scottsdale already has practices that benefit members of the LGBT community. The city extends health insurance coverage to employees' domestic partners.

In 2007, the council added sexual orientation and gender identity to the equal employment opportunity list in the city's code, a Scottsdale spokesman said.

The difference is an anti-discrimination ordinance would protect LGBT individuals when it comes to housing, workforce and other areas, Korte said.

"There are many who fear for their jobs if their sexual orientation was disclosed," Korte said. "I believe it is important, not only because it's the right thing to do ethically, but it's also important for our businesses and also important for our tourism community."

Dennis Robbins, a Scottsdale councilman, said he would need to study the issue further before supporting an ordinance.

"Being in business myself, you obviously want businesses to offer their services to everyone who would want to purchase them, but at the same time you don't want government telling you what to do," Robbins said. "I would have to talk to the city attorney and find out what's legally viable."

Councilwoman Suzanne Klapp said it is more appropriate right now to celebrate the council's unanimous support of the pledge, "and to not jump to other conclusions."

"Any other formal city action is just speculation," Klapp said.

However, at least two other Scottsdale council members said they would support an ordinance

"Absolutely, I support an anti-discrimination ordinance in Scottsdale," Councilwoman Linda Milhaven said. "At our core, Scottsdale is about respect and civility."

Vice Mayor Guy Phillips said that "if an LGBT discrimination ordinance is needed in Scottsdale, they would have my support."

Councilman Bob Littlefield could not be reached for comment.

The unanimous vote from the council in support of the pledge signals that it is "a wonderful time to have conversations with business and community leaders in the city of Scottsdale about moving forward," said Angela Hughey, president and co-founder of ONE Community, an online network for the LGBT community and organizer of the pledge.

"We think it's something that happens in steps," Hughey said. "We absolutely would like to see an ... anti-discrimination ordinance in Scottsdale."

Last year, Scottsdale received a score 23 out of 100 in the Human Rights Campaign's Municipal Equality Index, which grades cities based on their treatment of LGBT people.

Phoenix, by comparison, had a perfect 100 rating, said Kate Oakley, an attorney with the Human Rights Campaign.

Scottsdale "hasn't been that active on matters of LGBT equality," Oakley said. One of the criteria is whether or not a city has a non-discrimination ordinance, she noted.

Unity pledge

The pledge is a "concerted effort by Arizona businesses and individuals to advance workplace equality and equal treatment in housing and hospitality for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender individuals and their allies," according to the city.

About 140 businesses in Scottsdale and more than 1,000 businesses statewide have signed the unity pledge, which supports workplace equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender workers, said Angela Hughey, president of ONE Community, an online network for the LGBT community and organizer of the pledge.

The organizer is ONE Community, an online network for the LGBT community.