Debate Over Homosexual ‘Rights’ Comes to America’s Small Towns

By Charlie Butts (OneNewsNow.com)

Municipal ordinances that grant special rights to homosexuals are impacting smaller towns, too. 

Murray, Kentucky is one of the latest small towns in America to face a recommendation by its local human rights commission to pass an ordinance providing special rights and protections for homosexuals. But it must first be approved by Murray City Council.

Murray has a population of approximately 17,800.

Jack Henshaw of the Family Foundation of Kentucky says there’s a “false view” of religious freedom because the ordinance exempts only churches.

“However, it does nothing to protect the individual right of business owners in the community,” Henshaw tells OneNewsNow. “Nowhere in the First Amendment does it exempt individuals from being able to express their faith and their religion.”

So Christians will be considered “bigots” and “lawbreakers” if the ordinance is approved, he adds.

One infamous example of such an ordinance is in Texas, where the lesbian mayor of Houston (pictured at right), and homosexual city council members, pushed through a so-called “bathroom bill” that affected businesses in the city of 2.1 million, the largest in the state.

OneNewsNow has reported on Mayor Annise Parker’s legal fight with Houston-area pastors that drew national attention, and how city government tossed out a successful petition drive to put the issue before voters.

Houston citizens are suing the City of Houston over the dismissed petition signatures.

Arkansas residents in Fayetteville conducted a petition drive in recent weeks to overturn a similar ordinance passed by their city council in August. The ordinance was put on the ballot and repealed with a narrow 52-48 percent vote by citizens.