Maplewood Mayor White Questioned by Riverfront Times on Discrimination Ordinance

Maplewood Mayor James White gave a scenario at the Sept. 11 city council meeting of a male "convicted sexual pervert" opening shower curtains in a women's locker room if a law were passed prohibiting discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity.

He said if it passed, that person would be protected.

A Sept. 12 Patch article on the meeting prompted an article in the Riverfront Times on Sept. 13. The reporter called White for clarification on the ordinance, and he said the city manager said the document couldn't be released.

After the council meeting, White, who spent 30 years as an officer with the St. Louis County Police and 10 years as Maplewood chief of police said it could happen.

"That's the old policeman in me," White said.

The Riverfront Times reached Councilman Tim Dunn, who introduced the ordinance, who, according to the RFT, said the law would not protect "peeping-toms."

Dunn was quoted in the Riverfront Times:

"If the guy makes it out of the pool bathroom and my wife is in there, they may be able to prosecute what's left of his body," he jokes. "I think the system -- the police, prosecutors and judges -- can handle it."

The ordinance received more yes than no votes in two readings at the Sept. 11 meeting.

The council could hear the third and final reading, and pass the ordinance, at the Sept. 25 council meeting, though an agenda for the meeting hasn't been released.