FAYETTEVILLE, AR -- In a special referendum vote, Fayetteville voters repealed a law passed by the City Council in August that required churches, Christian schools, and other para-church ministries to hire homosexuals for "secular" jobs (such as school teachers), allowed men to use women's restrooms and locker rooms, and required Christian business owners to service "same-sex weddings." The law even provided for criminal prosecution of those who refused to comply.
Liberty Counsel became involved as soon as word spread that the City Council was considering passage of the radical ordinance, and Liberty Counsel attorneys wrote a letter to the Fayetteville City Council. Liberty Counsel worked with local attorneys Stephanie Nichols and Travis Story (the former graduated from Regent University and the latter graduated from Liberty University School of Law). Together, these attorneys drafted the referendum to repeal the law, and more than enough signatures were obtained to place the matter in a special election. The voters were heard and the law was repealed by a margin of 52 to 48 percent.
Mat Staver, Founder and Chairman of Liberty Counsel, said, "Homosexual activists are intolerant. The repeal of this radical and immoral law is a clear reminder that when good people unite and pastors speak up, their voices will be heard and they can make a difference. This ordinance sought to criminalize Judeo-Christian values. The American people should wake up and fight to preserve our inalienable right to freedom of conscience."
Liberty Counsel is an international nonprofit, litigation, education, and policy organization dedicated to advancing religious freedom, the sanctity of life, and the family since 1989, by providing pro bono assistance and representation on these and related topics.
