Protection against discrimination based on sexual orientation would be stripped from Spokane's new human rights ordinance if a citizens group gets its way.

Equal Rights, Not Special Rights, has filed a proposed initiative with the city asking that the matter be put to the voters.

The human rights ordinance was adopted by the City Council in January and took effect Friday. Bill Murphy, vice president of Shamrock Paving, is heading the effort to remove sexual-orientation protection. He testified against the ordinance during City Council public hearings on the issue. Murphy said Friday that a comment by Frank Cikutovich, chairman of the city's Human Rights Commission, motivated him to take the issue to the voters. "Frank Cikutovich appeared on TV and said he didn't trust the people to make the decision," said Murphy. "We think the people can be trusted to make this decision, and that's why it should be on the ballot." Cikutovich said Friday: "Sometimes things are too important to be left to a democratic process. "History shows that women, African Americans and traditional minorities were not allowed to enjoy the rights afforded to our white forefathers," said Cikutovich. News of the proposed initiative didn't surprise ordinance supporters, who already have organized to fight the effort. "We anticipated pretty early on that they would go ahead with some sort of effort," said Craig Peterson, who is leading an effort to keep the ordinance intact. "Some of us decided we wanted to do something to stand up for human rights," Peterson said. "We look forward to positive, issue- oriented discussion. We trust the wisdom of the voters of Spokane." The City Council passed the human rights ordinance on a 4-3 vote. Council members Roberta Greene, Cherie Rodgers, Phyllis Holmes and Jeff Colliton voted in favor, while Mayor John Talbott and Councilmen Rob Higgins and Orville Barnes voted against it. The ordinance reinforces state and federal laws prohibiting discrimination based on race, religion, color, sex, age, national origin, marital status, and disability. But it goes further by offering protection from discrimination based on sexual orientation. "Sexual orientation" is defined in the ordinance as actual or perceived bisexuality, heterosexuality or homosexuality. Human rights advocates applaud the ordinance as a step forward, providing much-needed protection for gays, lesbians and bisexuals. Opponents said it gives special civil rights to a group of people based on sexual behavior. The City Council is expected to schedule a hearing for March 15 on the proposed initiative. It must then decide to either approve the measure outright or ask supporters to gather signatures from voters to place it on the ballot. According to the city clerk, 2,964 signatures would have to be collected and returned by early August to make the November ballot. Penny Lancaster does research for Equal Rights, Not Special Rights, formerly known as Citizens for Common Sense. She said group members believe traditional minorities are already protected by state and federal laws. "Adding sexual orientation is giving special legal status and government endorsement to a group of people who identify themselves by their sexual behavior," she said. Seattle and King County include sexual orientation in their human rights ordinances. Olympia and Tumwater have added the term to their fair housing codes. Other cities prohibit discrimination against their own municipal employees on the basis of sexual orientation. In 1997, state voters trounced Initiative 677, which sought employment protection for gays.

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