The city of De Pere is asking a Brown County judge to dismiss a lawsuit filed by five churches and a Christian radio station. They are fighting a city ordinance that went into effect this month prohibiting discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity.
The churches and Lakeshore Communications want a declaration that the ordinance doesn’t apply to them — or, that it be declared unconstitutional. They say it is so broad it undermines their Constitutionally-protected rights to follow religious mandates and principles. The city says the suit is based on theory only and shows no example of damages.