Proposal to add protected classes goes back to city human relations commission

Topeka’s mayor and city council late Tuesday sent back to the Topeka Human Relations Commission a proposal that would add “gender identity and sexual orientation” to the list of classes protected by city code rules.

The mayor and council voted 9-0, with Councilman Tony Emerson being absent because of illness, to make that move while asking the HRC to further research, review and evaluate the proposal.

That proposal contains wording that is “very vague,” said Councilman Brendan Jensen.