A comprehensive Civil Rights Ordinance has been introduced to Akron City Council Members by Akron City Council President Marco Sommerville. The proposed ordinance is currently before Council's Public Safety Committee Chaired by Councilman At-Large Robert Ottermen.
You may email members of this commitee at:

Robert Otterman, chair,
John Valle,
Renee Greene,
Bob Keith,
Mary Ellen McAvoy,

Here are some good points for your discussion. They were provided by Eric Resnic.

                 AKRON CIVIL RIGHTS ORDINANCE
                        TALKING POINTS


1. This is a CIVIL RIGHTS ordianance. Akron has not updated
   its current civil rights ordinance since it was passed in
   1979. The language in the proposed bill is language that
   has passed court challenges. It also puts all civil rights
   law in one section of the code, instead of scattered.

2. This ordinance includes EVERYONE. For the first time,
   sexual orientation, gender, and disability are included.

3. This is morally the right thing to do. It will give Akron
   the right to be called a "World Class" city and ensure
   that ALL people will be able to participate in its
   economic and cultural bounties. Additionally, this will
   help attract modern businesses that are looking for areas
   to locate that are friendly to ALL people, including
   lesbians, gays, bisexuals and transgender folks.

4. With the exception of the aberration in Cincinnati, Akron
   is currently the largest municipality in Ohio WITHOUT
   protection on the basis of sexual orientation, gender and
   disability.

5. Nearly 80% of Americans, according to most recent NGLTF
   polling, believe that lesbians, gays, bisexuals and
   transgender people should not be discriminated against in
   areas of employment and public accommodation. This
   ordinance is consistent with that data.