FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (AP) — A judge in Washington County, Ark., has rejected a request to delay a Fayetteville city ordinance that bans discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity.
The Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reports that Judge Doug Martin on Friday ruled opponents of the law failed to show they have a “reasonable probability” of winning their lawsuit challenging the law or that allowing it to go into effect Saturday as scheduled would cause them irreparable harm.
Fayetteville voters in September approved the city’s Uniform Civil Rights Protection law, which would penalize businesses that fire, evict or turn away customers or employees based on sexual orientation or gender identity. Religious institutions and organizations are exempt.
The lawsuit trying to get the law tossed out completely continues in Martin’s court with a hearing set for next month.
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