It's easy to pass TBLG rights ordinances. The hard part is defending them from the Forces of Intolerance.Our friends in Missoula, MT are about to find out just how accurate that truism is. Their new law was passed in the early morning hours of April 13 and just took effect a few days ago.
But Tei Nash and his not so merry group of haters have been working to kill the bill by getting it on the ballot. They have collected signatures and filed three petitions that have failed for various reasons.
Nash's NotMyBathroom.com group filed a lawsuit this week in Missoula County District Court over its bid to get a petition off the ground to strike down the equality ordinance.
The haters named the city of Missoula and Missoula County as defendants. They allege Missoula City Attorney Jim Nugent and Missoula County Clerk and Recorder Vickie Zeier are thwarting their attempt to get a valid repeal petition approved. The lawsuit does not describe the alleged delay tactics Nugent and Zeier are alleged to have engaged in, which they deny.
If the opponents had turned in enough signatures on a valid petition within 60 days of adoption, the law would have been suspended pending the results of the referendum.
The lawsuit in addition to requesting damages and attorney fees, also asks the court to stop the clock on the 60 days, "taking into account that Respondents' tactics denied Petitioners the June 8 primary voting opportunity to collect signatures."
So stay tuned, the drama in Missoula continues, and for now the new trans inclusive rights law is in full effect.
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