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ANCHORAGE - A proposed Anchorage law banning discrimination against gays, lesbians and bisexuals has been rewritten to specify it wouldn't apply to small, home-operated businesses or to owner-occupied four-plexes or duplexes.

The new version written by the city administration also drops military veterans' discharge status, another category originally proposed for inclusion in the city's equal rights law.

Anchorage officials say some veterans' groups asked for more time to discuss the issue.

The revamped ordinance was discussed Friday at an Assembly work session and is scheduled for a public hearing Tuesday evening.

The law is being proposed by acting Mayor Matt Claman at the request of a citizens group called Equality Works.

The proposal seeks to add sexual orientation to the list of characteristics including race, gender, religion and age that are protected from discrimination in property sales and rentals, employment, public accommodations, educational institutions or city practices.

City attorney James Reeves said several misconceptions about the proposal have emerged since it was introduced in May. He said the ordinance would not allow men to come to work dressed as women, would not allow men dressed as women to enter women's restrooms in public facilities or businesses and would not require employers to allow workers to advocate a particular sexual preference in the workplace.

The Rev. Jerry Prevo, a local minister, is one of the proposal's opponents and said he still believes "it's a bad ordinance."

Prevo said the measure, if adopted, could lead to long, costly lawsuits.

Claman said in a statement that the measure is intended only to protect people from unfair discrimination.

"A person's sexual orientation or gender identity has nothing to do with job performance (or) qualifications as a good tenant or customer," he said. "It is the right thing to do and the right time to do it."