The city of Plano said in a news release it is has been receiving positions in opposition to the city of Plano's recently expanded equal rights ordinance.

The city secretary's office has started the process of verifying the signatures on the petitions to ensure those who signed are Plano residents and registered voters.

The news release said the validation process should be complete by the end of the month. The petitions must have at least 3,822 valid signatures—20 percent of the total votes cast in the last regular election.

Plano Citizens United said in a statement released on its Facebook page that as of Jan. 19 the organization has compiled more than 7,000 signatures in an effort to have the expanded equal rights ordinance repealed.

The Plano City Council expanded its existing equal rights ordinance Dec. 8 to include that it is unlawful to discriminate against a person based on sexual orientation or sexual identity. The ordinance already makes it unlawful to discriminate based on categories such as race, sex and religion for housing, public accommodations, employment or city contracting.

To read the ordinance or view the city's frequently asked questions page, visit www.plano.gov/ero.

Organizations against the ordinance

Plano Citizens United, www.planoequalrights.com

Liberty Institute, www.libertyinstitute.org

Organizations for the ordinance:

People in Support of the Equal Rights Policy of Plano TX, www.facebook.com/PlanoEqualRights

Gay and Lesbian Alliance of North Texas, www.galanorthtexas.org