Mission latest JoCo city to propose protecting LGBTQ, other marginalized groups

The city of Mission in Johnson County is preparing to debate new protections for the LGBTQ community, joining Prairie Village in that initiative.

In fact, the Mission City Council is expected to discuss a proposed non-discrimination ordinance at a committee meeting on Oct. 3, ahead of the Prairie Village council’s scheduled debate Oct. 15.

The Mission proposal was introduced by Councilwoman Sollie Flora. In a memo to her council colleagues, Flora said she wants to ensure uniform legal protections within the city prohibiting discrimination in employment, housing and public accommodations on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, disability, marital status, familial status or veteran status.

“It is my hopes that the Council will move forward with this proposed ordinance by voting to move the proposal for final consideration at an upcoming council meeting in the near future,” she wrote.

Flora told The Star that the ordinance is patterned on one adopted in 2014 in Roeland Park. She said that at a time when the state of Kansas and the federal government do not extend protections against discrimination to the LGBTQ and other marginalized communities, she felt it was important for cities to do so within their borders.

She was particularly concerned that the state of Kansas earlier this year passed a law that allows agencies to refuse adoptions to LGBT couples.

The Mission City Council packet includes letters of support for the ordinance from residents, the officers of the Mission Business Partnership, the Northeast Johnson County Chamber and the Mainstream Coalition.

Flora said she fully expects a city council quorum will be available Oct. 3 to discuss the proposal and hear public testimony. However, she knows of two council members who have long planned to be absent. The council has eight members (not counting the mayor) and needs five for a quorum.

This would be a preliminary meeting for discussion, and any formal action would be taken at a subsequent meeting.

The Prairie Village City Council was expected to debate a non-discrimination ordinance on Sept 18, but that meeting was canceled because of lack of a quorum. Six of the 12 council members couldn’t attend that meeting, including three council members who announced they would be absent just hours before the meeting was set to start.

The Prairie Village sponsors of that ordinance, Tucker Poling and Chad Herring, have vowed to move forward, and the issue is again scheduled to be debated at the Oct. 15 council meeting.

This story was originally published September 28, 2018 at 2:32 PM.