Plano responds to Equal Rights Ordinance backlash

The city of Plano released a statement Dec. 12 in response to controversy following the city council's approval of the expanded Plano Equal Rights Ordinance.

The ordinance prohibits discrimination based on things such as sex, race and religion in regards to public accommodations, housing, employment and city contracting.

On Dec. 8, the council approved expanding the ordinance, first approved in 1989, to include categories such as sexual orientation and gender identity.

The ordinance excludes several entities from its policies, including religious organizations and educational institutions, except as required by state or federal law.

The city's statement says there has been "an abundance of misinformation being disseminated regarding" the ordinance.

The statement addresses the section of the ordinance that says a person of one sex can be denied access to facilities such as restrooms or locker rooms if the facility has been designated to the opposite sex.

"The Plano Equal Rights Ordinance includes equality in public accommodations with the exception of restrooms which are excluded from regulation by the ordinance to safeguard our citizens' privacy," the statement reads.

Click here to read the full ordinance.