Group Opposing Ordinance Garners Support

EL PASO - A group that opposes the new ordinance that eliminated benefits for domestic partners almost has enough signatures to have their say in May.

The ordinance only makes city benefits available to city employees and their legal spouses and children. El Paso for Equality has drafted a petition to add an anti-discrimination clause to the city charter, which would be voted on in May.

The group's chair, Lyda Ness-Garcia, says the original wording of the ordinance was deliberately misleading.

"Literally every time we have a meeting with have at least several people come up to us and say, we voted wrong, or we know someone who voted wrong, we didn't understand it," she said.

The group also says the proposed amendment, which city council will vote on today, doesn't go far enough.

Some council members say they'd amend the current ordinance to grandfather in people who already have benefits.