Story by: Kit Martin

The Montevallo Non-Discrimination Ordinance had their first questions and answers panel tonight at Montevallo City Hall.

Member of the city came together to listen to a variety of panelists who spoke about discrimination of the LGBT+ community.

Dr. Andrea Eckelman, an assistant professor of Political Science at the University of Montevallo, moderated the discussion.

Dr. Eckelman says, “It’s an educational panel so we have had a community forum which was a very informal sort of discussion based event so this was our first very formalized questions and answers sort of session.”

Both campus and city communities gathered to write questions on discrimination and civil right laws.

Education panelists included transgender activists Elaine Stephens and Jamie Pressley, Pro Bono attorney Steve Rygiel, and Rev. Daniel Stallings of University Baptist Church.

In September, Birmingham became the first city in Alabama to pass Non-Discrimination Ordinance for the LGBTQ+ community.

For more information about The Birmingham or Montevallo NDO, visit the Human Rights Campaign