Non-Discrimination Ordinance Has City Council Members Divided

CHATTANOOGA,TN, (WDEF)-Chris Anderson, District 7, "Anybody who opposes this is simply hiding behind their religion or personal values to keep a system of discrimination in place and I don’t have time for those people."

Councilman Chris Anderson wants the terms "gender identity and expression" included in the city’s non discrimination ordinance.

"It’s very simple all it says is we can’t harass, bully, discipline or terminate our employees because they are LGBT."

City Council is set to vote on the amendment on Tuesday of next week.

Some members are concerned about the draft.

Chip Henderson, District 1,"That a protected class of people, particularly a woman, her rights would be violated this ordinance, possibly allowing for a man that claims to be a woman entering a female restroom."

Henderson has sent an amended ordinance to the city attorney that omits "gender identity and expression" and focuses on faith.

"I want to protect that also there’s more protection in the constitution about a person’s right to religious expression than about anything else in this ordinance."