Anchorage LGBTQ+ Legislative Timeline

Below is a comprehensive 40+ year history of the struggle around LGBTQ+ rights in Anchorage, reinforcing why Identity works hard to educate and advocate for the LGBTQ+ community today and tomorrow.

AO 77-75: Introduced on December 16, 1975 (AM 279-75 Veto Message). The ordinance established the Anchorage Equal Rights Commission and its duties. The ordinance would have added “sexual preference” as a protected class under Anchorage Title 5 – Equal Rights.

AO 6-76. Introduced on January 20, 1976. The ordinance established the Anchorage Equal Rights Commission and its duties. The ordinance did not include “sexual preference” as a protected class, as outlined in the unnumbered memorandum that accompanied the ordinance.

AO 7-76: Introduced on January 20, 1976. The ordinance established the Anchorage Equal Rights Commission and its duties. The ordinance would have added “private sexual preference” as a protected class under Anchorage Title 5 – Equal Rights.

AO 203-76: Introduced on October 19, 1976 (AM 618-76). The ordinance established the Anchorage Equal Rights Commission and its duties, without adding “sexual preference” as a protected class under Anchorage Title 5 – Equal Rights.

AIM 156-92: Introduced on August 25, 1992. The memorandum discussed the Anchorage Equal Rights Commission’s study of the need to add “sexual orientation” as a protected class under Anchorage Title 5 – Equal Rights, and the Commission’s July 24, 1992 recommendation to not add “sexual orientation” as a protected class.

AO 92-115: Introduced August 25, 1992. The ordinance amended AMC 7.50 to add “sexual orientation” to the list of protected classes in Municipal purchasing and contracts.

AO 92-116: Laid on the table on August 25, 1992 (AIM  220-92, AM 1198-92). The ordinance added “sexual orientation” as a protected class under Anchorage Title 5 – Equal Rights.

AIM 220-92: Introduced on December 8, 1992. The memorandum was drafted in response to a request for the number and nature of inquiries made to the Anchorage Equal Rights Commission regarding discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation.

AO 92-116(S): Laid on the table on January 12, 1993 (AIM 156-92, AM 66-93). The ordinance added “sexual orientation” as a protected class under Anchorage Title 5 – Equal Rights for the purposes of public (Municipal) employment and contracting.

1993: A group (Citizen’s Against the Homosexual Ordinance) gathered signatures for a referendum on the ordinance. The Municipal Clerk certified the petition on February 22,1993. The question of sustaining the ordinance was Proposition 1 on the April 20, 1993 Municipal ballot. If approved Proposition 1 would have upheld AO 92-116(s), which added “sexual orientation” to the list of protected classed for purposes of public employment (Municipal) and municipal contracting. A group of Anchorage residents who supported the ordinance sued in Anchorage Superior Court (Faipeas v. Municipality of Anchorage) requesting a stay of the election as it pertained to the referendum, pending final decision of their appeal. The Superior Court denied the stay and the plaintiffs appealed to the Supreme Court of Alaska, which granted the appeal request and remanded the case back to the Superior Court with instructions to stay the Municipal election with respect to the referendum.  The Supreme Court noted that the appellants would most likely prevail at trial. Consequently, the votes related to Proposition 1 were not counted or published.

AR 93-52: Laid on the table on January 12, 1993 (AM 288-93). The resolution established a task force to review and recommend action to remedy discrimination based on sexual orientation.

AO 93-99: Laid on the table on April 27,1993 (AM 546-93). The ordinance repealed AO 92-116(S), which added “sexual orientation” to the list of protected classes for public (Municipal) employment and contracting.

AO 2009-64: Laid on the table on May 12, 2009. The ordinance amended AMC 5.10 – Equal Rights Commission and AMC 5.20 – Unlawful Discriminatory Practices.

AO 2009-64(S): Laid on the table on May 12, 2009 (AM 342-2009). The ordinance amended AMC 5.10 – Equal Rights Commission and AMC 5.20 – Unlawful Discriminatory Practices.

AO 2009-64(S-1): Laid on the table on June 16, 2009 (continued meeting of June 9, 2009). The ordinance amended AMC 5.10 – Equal Rights Commission and AMC 5.20 – Unlawful Discriminatory Practices.

AO 2009-64 (S-2): Introduced on August 11, 2009 (AM 342-2009). The ordinance amended AMC 5.10 – Equal Rights Commission and AMC 5.20 – Unlawful Discriminatory Practices.

2012: Proposition 5 was a ballot initiative on the April 3, 2012 Municipal election ballot. Proposition 5 added “sexual orientation” and “transgender identity” to the list of protected classes in Anchorage Title 5 – Equal Rights.

AO 2015-95: Introduced on August 25, 2015. The ordinance amended the Municipality’s Personnel Rules (AMC 3.30) and Affirmative Action Plan (AMC 3.100.010) to add “sexual orientation” and “gender identity” to the list of nondiscrimination classifications for Municipal employees and requiring the fair treatment of Municipal applicants and employees.

AO 2015-96: Introduced on August 25, 2015 (AM 518-2015 & AIM 133-2015). The ordinance added “sexual orientation” and “gender identity” as protected classes under Anchorage Title 5 – Equal Rights and expanded and clarified religious exemptions.

AO 2015-96(S): Introduced on September 15, 2015 (AM 527-15) The ordinance added “sexual orientation” and “gender identity” as protected classes under Anchorage Title 5 – Equal Rights and expanded and clarified religious exemptions.

AO 2015-96(S-1), As Amended: Introduced (agenda addendum) on September 15, 2015 (AM 543-215). The ordinance added “sexual orientation” and “gender identity” as protected classes under Anchorage Title 5 – Equal Rights and expanded and clarified religious exemptions.

2018: Proposition 1 – Regulating Access To Facilities Such As Locker Rooms And Bathrooms was a ballot initiative on the April 6, 2018 Municipal election ballot. Proposition 1 rolled back provisions of AO 2015-96(S-1), As Amended, related to gender identity.