JACKSON, MI - The non-discrimination ordinance will not go into effect March 9, as originally planned.
The city of Jackson has verified 368 signatures, and stopped counting after about 400 of the 682 names on the petitions. Only 342 valid signatures were needed to block the ordinance.
A grassroots group of residents, headed by Jackson's three largest Catholic churches, distributed the petitions. The Rev. Tim Nelson said the next step is organizing the group in opposition.
"Now is the time to really explain the position of the other side," Nelson said. "We'll have to organize ourselves in a formal way, then we can raise money to send out information."
Names from the petition are public record and can be viewed via a Freedom of Information Act request. Not all names will be available, as some petitions weren't submitted because they were unnecessary to reach the requirement.
The ordinance prohibits discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity in employment, housing and public accommodations. It passed 5-2 at the City Council's Feb. 7 meeting.
Council members Arlene Robinson, Freddie Dancy, Daniel Greer, Andrew Frounfelker and Derek Dobies voted in favor. Mayor Bill Jors and Craig Pappin voted against.
"Discrimination has no place in Jackson," reads a Thursday statement from Jackson Together. "The ordinance passed by the city council - after input from hundreds of residents and local businesses - protects those who live and work here from being fired or discriminated against because of who they are or who they love."
Here's the city's deeper look at the consequences and procedures for the NDO.
More than 40 municipalities across the state have enacted NDO's. It's unknown if any have repealed a non-discrimination ordinance.
The next step? City Council must decide whether to dispose of the ordinance entirely or put it on the Aug. 8 ballot for city voters to determine its future. With the March 14 meeting canceled, the group won't meet again until March 28.
The Jan. 24 and Feb. 7 meetings had to be hosted at the Michigan Theatre of Jackson, as crowds were too large to fit into City Hall. The final reading of the ordinance warranted a six-hour meeting with 156 public commenters.
Years of discussion culminate in a vote on Tuesday, as the Jackson City Council decides whether or not to prohibit discrimination in employment, public housing and public accommodations based on sexual orientation and gender identity.