Group fighting new anti-discrimination law in Ypsilanti

The Ypsilanti City Council gave unanimous tentative approval to an anti-discrimination ordinance on Tuesday night.

In part, it stipulates protecting everyone regardless of ''race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, age, marital status, having a disability, familial status, educational association, source of income, height or weight.''

But the group Citizens Opposing Special Treatment (COST) wants voters to pass an amendment to the city charter that would nullify the ordinance, which is expected to become law following a final City Council vote Dec. 16.

''From the very beginning, we have stated our objections to any ordinance that elevates a group to protect them based on sexual desires, sexual drives and/or sexual conduct,'' COST member Judy Bloss said.

''Homosexuality is a morally controversial issue. Race is not a morally controversial issue. You are born what you are born,'' Bloss said.

Councilperson S.A. Trudy Swanson, who helped draft the ordinance, said the law does not mean to single out any group.

''We're not asking anybody to denounce the Bible. We're asking people to think about what if that were you. I'm African-American. Being black, we already know about discrimination,'' Swanson said.

''My view is discrimination is discrimination, regardless person's sexual orientation or what they believe in.''

The ordinance came about after an Ypsilanti printing company refused to print raffle tickets last February for Tri-Pride, a group of ''gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered'' social work students at Eastern Michigan University.

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