A proposal for a gay rights ordinance in DeKalb was endorsed by members of the city’s human relations commission Tuesday, but action on the effort will wait until after city elections in April.

It took almost an hour for the commission to obtain the number of members needed to take a vote on the issue, but the decision was postponed until the next meeting April 4.

Commission members listened to testimony from gay rights activists but want to be armed with more specific case studies before going to the city council with a proposal.

Brian Subatich, coordinator of the Gay-Lesbian Community Foundation, along with three members of NIU’s Gay-Lesbian Union presented a written statement calling for gay rights provisions.

Rick Turner, DeKalb corporate council, suggested that the commission propose a change in existing human rights ordinances rather than a separate gay rights ordinance.

A subcommittee of the commission will meet March 21 with Subatich and GLU members to decide on more specific case studies and arguments to add protection for sexual orientation under DeKalb’s laws. If the commission agrees to the proposal on April 4, it will be brought to the city council for final consideration.

Stephen Hermann, GLU co-president, said a local restaurant has asked workers suspected of being gay to quit, and some local landlords have not allowed people they think are gay to rent apartments.

He did not name places suspected of discrimination or the names of alleged victims. He said victims did not want their names presented to the commission because they have no protection from discrimination.

DeKalb has no organizations to monitor and count acts of discrimination against homosexuals, Subatich said. There is no documentation of hate crimes to prove discrimination, but DeKalb might see some in the future, he said.

“You don’t have to prove it to me,” said commission member Joe Pasteris. “I don’t think proof is the issue. You don’t have to bring me a bunch of case studies. We should … stand up and say it (gay rights provision) should be done on the basis of equity.”

But Pasteris conceded that case studies are needed to pass an ordinance change.

“An ordinance in and of itself is going to cause you (gay rights activists) to have to step forward publicly and identify yourselves. I hope your people understand this.”

Commission Chairman Beth Schulman said delaying the ordinance until after the April 4 city elections will not impede the chance of passing the change.

The sixth ward is the only council seat with opposition. Incumbant Michael Neylon is running against NIU student Jamie Pennington. The rest of the council will remain unchanged.

Five candidates are running for mayor, but Schulman said a mayoral endorsement of a gay rights provision is not needed.

“I’d love to have the mayor’s support,” she said, but DeKalb’s mayor does not have the power to pass an ordinance without council support.