Berwyn makes history

Berwyn, IL,  recently joined 13 other cities in Illinois when city officials unanimously decided to include “sexual orientation” to its human-rights ordinance:

The decision brings Berwyn in line with a statewide law barring discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity in areas of housing, public accommodations and employment, which was passed in 2005.

According to the Windy City Times:

The decision brings Berwyn in line with a statewide law barring discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity in areas of housing, public accommodations and employment, which was passed in 2005.

The moment was, typically, full of irony:

[Former board chair Ted] Korbos, one of the organization’s founding members, said that one of the vocal opponents of the sexual orientation clause from 14 years ago showed up to the recent city council meeting, but left in a huff when even Republican alderman approved of its inclusion last week.

Fourteen years ago, one of the main arguments given for voting down the clause was that state law did protect against sexual orientation discrimination. Korbos told Windy City Times that it is “ironic” that today, current Illinois law became an argument to update the Berwyn ordinance.

“It really paved the way,” Korbos said.

And so it goes, as Kurt Vonnegut, master of irony, would have said.




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