Omaha City Council passes new LGBT protections

Some good news at the end of the day; Omaha City Council passed new LGBT protections after long and crazy public discussions on the issue

A divided Omaha City Council approved a controversial measure Tuesday to add new legal protections against discrimination for gay and transgender residents.


Passed on a 4-3 vote, the council ended weeks of scrutiny and intense lobbying that exposed fractures within the city's business and religious communities. The Greater Omaha Chamber of Commerce decided to remain neutral on the issue, citing a split in its membership.


Garry Gernandt, the South Omaha council member who voted against a similar proposal in 2010, cast a surprise swing vote in favor of the ordinance.


"We are all part of the human race," he said.

The craziness I was talking about is here