A City Council member in Shreveport, Louisiana, withdrew his bill that intended to repeal an LGBT-inclusive anti discrimination ordinance, after an outcry from the public, including a transgender woman who dared him to stone her to death.
The City Council passed the ordinance in December, 2013 by a 6-1 vote after Be Fair Shreveport, a pro-LGBT coalition, successfully campaigned for the rights of the queer community. According to the ordinance, the city would not be able to discriminate against someone based on his or her sexual orientation or gender identity, in matters of housing and employment.
The single vote against the cause came from council member Ron Webb who said, “The Bible tells you homosexuals are an abomination.” He also added that he did not wish to socialize with members of the LGBT community.
Ten days after the council passed the ordinance, Webb drafted a proposal hoping to repeal the nondiscrimination policy. However, on January 14, hundreds of people gathered outside the City Council meeting to oppose Webb’s decision. In the crowd, Pamela Raintree, a transgender woman, called out to the religious politician and dared him to stone her to death.
“Leviticus 20:13 states, 'If a man also lie with mankind as he lieth with a woman, they shall surely put him to death. I brought the first stone, Mr. Webb, in case that your Bible talk isn't just a smokescreen for personal prejudices,” she said.
The council member immediately withdrew his repeal demand, and called for a vote instead.
Photo Credits: Wikimedia Commons
