The blond boy in a green shirt stood under 3-feet tall outside City Hall. He was not the only child there; several more stood around sporting "God Hates Fags" shirts. He was with others the Westboro Baptist Church brought in its protest caravan.

When asked if he knew what he was protesting, the boy mumbled for a minute, incoherently, and was unable to explain his attendance at the rally.

Tuesday night, the city commission began listening to community input on a homosexual nondiscrimination ordinance, which states that businesses cannot discriminate based on sexual orientation when hiring. Prior to the meeting, the church group, commonly associated with Fred Phelps — leader of the congregation — picketed with signs and chants on Poyntz Avenue across the street from City Hall.

At one point during the protest, the Westboro group substituted lyrics and sang a song to the tune of Lady Gaga's "Telephone." Lady Gaga's video of "Telephone" features her portraying transsexuality and bisexuality. Gaga, a self-proclaimed bisexual who has admitted to sexual relations with women, is a condemner of homophobia and firm supporter of homosexual rights.

Fifty yards down the block, people opposing Phelps held up signs of their own. These signs, however, did not include hateful messages, said Sam Brinton, president of LGBTQ & More, a homosexual rights group.

While the Westboro group had 25 protestors, the counter-opposition numbered more than 100 strong, said Jonathan Mertz, chair of the board of the Flint Hills Human Rights Project, the sponsoring organization for the rally.

"We (were there) to let people know that Manhattan does not subscribe to the type of hate and discrimination that (Phelps and the WBC) do, that Manhattan is a supportive community," Mertz said. "To me, it's sad that they hide behind the disguise of religion."

Brinton said he attended with others from LGBTQ & More to celebrate people's right of equal protection.

"It's the right thing to do," Brinton said.

Inside the city hall building, a nearly full commission meeting provided the scene for a diverse debate over the proposed sexual orientation ordinance, along with two other debates over items on the consent agenda Tuesday night.

The proposed sexual orientation ordinance was met with differing sides within the meeting. One of the early public commentators who came forward was Gary Conrad, distinguished professor of biology. Conrad spoke of the Safe Zone program at K-State, which offers physical protection to students who feel threatened.

"We are all equal," Conrad said. "City laws should treat all people equal."

Others were concerned about moral issues stemming from the proposed ordinance.

"As a father, Christian, pastor and citizen of Manhattan, I think it is a mistake to go through with this (ordinance)," said Matt Zodrow, pastor of the newly created church Christ Fellowship. He said the proposed ordinance was a violation of free speech, and the government could police people's beliefs if it was passed.

City Commissioner Bob Strawn responded to comments by stating that he would block the gender ordinance, while pointing out that this ordinance would be "pitting people against people."

Strawn's fellow commissioner, Loren Pepperd, agreed and proposed that the ordinance should be left up to the people of Manhattan by a democratic vote.

The City Commission meeting also included proclamations of Homelessness Awareness Day on Sept. 16 and Community Cultural Harmony Week during Sept. 19-25, both to be celebrated at the K-State campus.

A debate also surfaced concerning the approval of Kinseth Hospitality as the manager of the Hilton Garden Inn and Conference Center.

Commissioner Strawn said that he believed it was a "huge mistake" to allow Kinseth Hospitality, an Iowa-based company, to manage a Kansas company.

Also discussed was a proposed contract with Donna Lawrence Productions of Louisville, Ky., for the production services for the Flint Hills Discovery Center. Strawn said the maximum amount of $885,000 that would go to the funding of a "12 to 15 minute film" would come completely from property taxes from Manhattan residents.