About 75 people attended the first of three forums concerning the proposed amendment of City of Salina code relating to sexual orientation and gender identity protections against discrimination at the Salina Community Theatre.

Gina McDonald director of the Salina Human Relations Commission went over what types of discrimination are already covered by the city ordinance, and how the process on filing a discrimination case works now.

The forum was geared to take comments and opinion and not answer questions, although some speakers did ask questions of McDonald.

Those who spoke in favor of the amendment of the city ordinance, said they spoke for LGBT friends who were afraid to speak up about discrimination because of the lack of protections in local ordinance.

A methodist minister William Salmon who is a supporter of gay rights said that after a letter to the editor in the Salina Journal supporting gays, he recieved threats from a members of a Methodist church north of Salina that he had been mentoring a new minister because of his stance on gay rights.

Those who oppose the change in the ordinance ask that the issue be placed before the voters to determine if the change should be made.

The next public forum will be Thursday afternoon from 3pm to 7pm and Saturday from 1pm to 4pm at the Salina Community Theatre.