One year after city commissioners rejected an ordinance that would add sexual orientation and gender identity to Springfield’s nondiscrimination laws, a local gay rights group rekindled the debate.

Springfield resident Nancy Blackburn, the vice president of Equality Springfield, on Tuesday asked commissioners to rethink the issue. Blackburn cited last week’s decision by the city council of Phoenix, Ariz., to “to prohibit discrimination on the basis of disability, sexual orientation, gender expression or gender identity in employment, housing, and public accommodations.”

“I hope the entire city commission will soon re-evaluate their stance on this issue, and that Springfield may one day approve a measure that would prohibit discrimination against our LGBT citizens,” Blackburn said.

Commissioners did not respond publicly after the request.

Commissioners voted 3-2 in February 2012 against amending the city’s human rights codes, thus ending a months-long public debate in often standing room-only commission meetings.

Commissioners tabled the ordinance in September of 2011 to enable the city’s volunteer Human Relations Board to provide guidance on the topic.

The board returned the findings in December, split 4-3 with the majority finding “no compelling evidence of discrimination to substantiate changes.”

Assistant Mayor Joyce Chilton and commissioners Dan Martin and Kevin O’Neill voted against the legislation. Mayor Warren Copeland and Commissioner Karen Duncan were in favor of the amendment.

Copeland and City Manager Jim Bodenmiller said the issue has not been discussed at City Hall since the ordinance failed last year.

Equality Springfield President Rick Incorvati told commissioners discrimination in Springfield has “happened here” and will happen again.

“The big difference now is that it can continue with the sanction of City Hall,” Incorvati said.

Incorvati said when Chilton and Martin voted against the ordinance, they called for more education on the issue. Incorvati said despite several invitations for Chilton, Martin and O’Neill to attend different events, none has attended.

Since the vote, Incorvati said he’s been contacted by a few people who believe they were fired or denied work because of their sexual orientation.

“Because of your vote, there is no authority in our city to honor their sense of injustice with any response at all,” Incorvati said.

Incorvati asked commissioners to think of the LGBT citizens they’ve met, and the ones they haven’t met yet.

“You five city leaders can do more than anyone to improve their quality of life,” Incorvati said. “We just ask you do it before they decide there are far too many other places that will reward their talents.”