re: Fayetteville's Anti-Discrimination Ordinance... repealed.

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I totally disagree that there wouldn't be nearly the backlash. Let's face it, the two core groups that really reacted to this ordinance and were outspokenly against it were libertarian/tea party folks and the conservative christians. Neither one of those are ever going to like ANY kind of ordinance that deals with this issue, regardless how mild it might be.

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The uber religious Tea Party types are far more numerous than I ever imagined in the city of Fayetteville. And you are right, they are never going to support any kind of protections for gay people. But there is a middle ground of business owners and otherwise gay-neutral or even gay-positive people who voted against it due to some of the broadness of the initiative. Our law was very broad and inclusive. If they'd propose one more in line with Starkville or Plano, it might not even garner enough signatures to take it to a vote. Sometimes Petty and Marsh go for broke, like with the height restrictions downtown, and wind up getting more than they hoped for and it backfires.

Another problem is that reality TV has made some of our most outspoken religious conservatives into millionaires locally, so they are able to organize and fund like never before.