Christian group drops lawsuit over Austin's LGBT protections
AUSTIN (AP) - AUSTIN, Texas (AP) - A conservative Christian group has dropped its lawsuit attempting to overturn Austin's anti-discrimination ordinance that extends employment protection to sexual orientation and gender identity.
The Austin American-Statesman reports the U.S. Pastor Council has dismissed its federal lawsuit against the city of Austin.
The Houston-based council sued in October. The group alleges that Austin's ordinance is unconstitutional and invalid because it doesn't include a religious exemption for 25 member churches in the city that refuse to hire LGBT people.
Austin's ordinance allows faith-based schools and organizations to limit hiring to members of a particular religion. But the pastors' lawsuit argued the exemptions didn't go far enough.
The council's leader, Dave Welch, says the decision to drop the lawsuit Tuesday was based on legal advice, but their position remains unchanged.
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Information from: Austin American-Statesman, http://www.statesman.com