MANHATTAN-A packed city commission chamber in Manhattan on Tuesday discussed all sides of the city’s chapter 10, civil rights prohibition against discrimination and whether to add gender identity, sexual orientation to the ordinance.

Business owners, members of the clergy, students and other concerned citizens were given time to share their thoughts on the controversial issue.

The ordinance protects various classes of individuals and provides for equal opportunities for housing, employment, public accommodation and created a human rights and services board.

State or federal law in Kansas protects neither sexual orientation nor gender identity.

The decision to add gender identity would become a local issue governed only by the local ordinance.

The commission took no action.

If the change to the ordinance were approved, a formal hearing process would need to be established along with how to enforce it.