The city of Tempe, Arizona will today vote on Proposition 475, a measure that would protect workers from discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity, AZ Central reports. While Tempe's city council earlier this year unanimously approved an LGBT non-discrimination ordinance that banned anti-LGBT "discrimination in housing, employment and accommodations at restaurants and hotels, but includes exceptions for religious organizations and social clubs," this latest proposition would go a step further, mandating workplace rights for LGBT people:

"It's a very important step for the community to signal publicly that all of its citizens are welcomed, and all of its residents will enjoy the same rights and response as others when it comes to issues of non-discrimination," said former Tempe Mayor Neil Giuliano, who was among the nation's first openly gay mayors and is CEO of the San Francisco AIDS Foundation.

If Proposition 475 is successful, Tempe would become the first Arizona city to include sexual orientation, gender identity and U.S. military veteran status in a city charter as protected classes from employment discrimination. To abolish the rights, any future council would have to take the issue back to the voters…

Tempe's gay workers now are protected against discrimination under a hodgepodge of city personnel rules.

Tempe leaders and Equality Arizona, a LGBT-rights group backing the measure, want those civil rights enshrined in the city charter…

The city ordinance bans discrimination in housing, employment and accommodations at restaurants and hotels, but includes exceptions for religious organizations and social clubs.

You can read the entire proposition for yourself, AFTER THE JUMP…

(Photo via Facebook)

A proposed amendment to the Tempe City Charter by the City Council.

OFFICIAL TITLE: A PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO THE CHARTER OF THE CITY OF TEMPE, ARIZONA, ARTICLE IX, GENERAL PROVISIONS, SECTION 9.01, PROHIBITIONS AND PENALTIES, SUBSECTION (A)(1), ACTIVITIES PROHIBITED.

DESCRIPTIVE TITLE: Shall the Tempe City Charter be amended to prohibit discrimination or favor for city positions on the basis of race, color, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, national origin, familial status, age, political affiliation, disability or United States military veteran status, except as such favor may be authorized by law?

A "YES" vote shall have the effect of amending the Tempe City Charter by including additional categories to be protected from discrimination or favor with respect to city positions.

A "NO" vote shall have the effect of retaining the current charter language.