Kalamazoo's Ordinance 1856 passes with 62 percent voting yes

KALAMAZOO, Mich. - On Tuesday West Michigan went to the polls, and the results are now coming in.

After months of campaigning and debating, voters in Kalamazoo have had their say on a controversial anti-discrimination ordinance.

With all precincts reporting, the ordinance has passed with 62 percent of voters voting yes, and One Kalamazoo, the group supporting the ordinance, is declaring victory.

Ordinance 1856 looks to protect gay, lesbian, and transgendered citizens when it comes to discrimination in housing, employment and public accommodations.

It's a piece of legislation that has divided Kalamazoo. In the course of a year, the Kalamazoo City Commission had approved and repealed the ordinance twice before putting it up before the voters.