Gays and lesbians in St. Paul have gone without legal protection from discrimination since 1978, when voters repealed homosexual rights legislation that had been in effect for four years. And though the new measure easily won the approval of a council majority the specter of that defeat was raised by council member Roger Goswitz’s lone dissent. The group Citizens Alert says it will collect the 5200 signatures needed to put the measure on a general election ballot, but may not do it this year.

It’s uncertain how the new human rights provision will do if put before voters. The 1978 gay rights provision failed at the polls 63 to 37 percent. But ten years later a proposed charter amendment related to the gay rights issue lost by a narrower margin, 56 to 44 percent.

Citizens Alert said it will announce its plans for fighting the gay rights ordinance July 10, The ordinance itself is scheduled to go into effect July 25.