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Springfield city commissioners to vote on gay rights' issue

After nearly a year of discussion, the Springfield City Commissioners will vote Tuesday evening on legislation that would add sexual orientation to the city's non-discrimination code.

A group called Equality Springfield approached city commissioners last April asking them to draft legislation that would make it a crime to discriminate against gay city workers.

In September, commissioners referred the request to the city's Human Relations Board. The board, in a 4-3 decision, voted that there were no signs of discrimination that would make it necessary to change the current code.

But after several months of political pressure from Equality Springfield and inquiries from concerned citizens, city commissioners have voted to hear proposed legislation that would make it a crime to discriminate against gay municipal workers.

Commissioners will vote on the legislation at their February 28 meeting.