PITTSBURGH -- The Pittsburgh City Council has a message for their Allegheny County counterparts when it comes to anti-discrimination: Get on board.

Mayor David Lawrence formed the city's Human Relations Commission in 1954, and the city made the same commitment against discrimination in 1990 with a ban of discrimination based on sexual orientation.

"I don't want to be flippant in my remark, but I don't know a better way to say it than, 'The sky hasn't fallen,'" Councilman Bruce Kraus said.

"Marital status, familial status or age. These are discriminatory practices that we want to end. This isn't anything new," Council President Doug Shields said.

Controversy swirls around a proposed anti-discrimination law for Allegheny County that spells out a non-discrimination policy when it comes to housing and employment based on race, religion, age, sexual orientation and other grounds.

"It's a very important issue. To me, it's a no-brainer: Equal rights for all, special rights for none." - Councilman Bill Peduto

Some county lawmakers have wavered on supporting the bill due to opponent calls and e-mails, but Pittsburgh lawmakers said there's a more important issue for everyone to understand.

"It's a very important issue. To me, it's a no-brainer: Equal rights for all, special rights for none," Councilman Bill Peduto said.

"Having a Human Relations Commission at a county level helps to define our whole county as a place where we will not tolerate discrimination of any kind," Councilwoman Darlene Harris said.

People gathered at a rally in Schenley Park on Saturday, urging lawmakers to support the bill in wake of lawmakers' indecision. Many people are expected to speak about the bill at a County Council public hearing on Thursday.