Anchorage Assembly votes to pass ordinance banning discrimination based on sexual orientation.

By a 7-4 vote, the Anchorage Assembly Tuesday approved a compromise ordinance that bans discrimination in Anchorage on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity.

The vote capped two months of public meetings on a controversial issue that has engaged the community for a generation. The Assembly itself debated for most of an hour Tuesday, displaying emotion and passion not often seen in the chambers.

The majority falls one vote short of reaching the 8-vote supermajority needed to override a mayoral veto. Mayor Dan Sullivan said before the vote he had not decided if he would take that step. He has seven days to decide.

After more than a month of testimony, after watching huge tides of red shirted bigots bussed into our city in an attempt to encourage discrimination, after listening to many, many hours of tearful testimony from those who have suffered discrimination due to their sexuality, the vote has finally been taken and acceptance and tolerance have prevailed.

And now it falls to newly elected mayor Dan Sullivan to either dash the dreams of Alaskans who hope for a more tolerant city, or to embrace the future and allow this vote to stand.

Will Sullivan lower his head and publicly acquiesce to the minister of hate Jerry Prevo, who had to have supporters bussed in from less tolerant areas of the state to find enough red shirted supporters to stand with signs and yell insults at the LGBT supporters?

Or will he "man up" and show the city that elected him that he is supportive of their wishes?

I admit that I do not have high hopes for Mayor Sullivan but perhaps he can prove me wrong.

At least this time.