MARTINSBURG, W.Va. — The Martinsburg City Council unanimously adopted a non-discrimination ordinance at their regular meeting Thursday night.
The policy now extends employment and public and housing protections , that already are provided for other people to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender residents.
City Manager Mark Bladwin said in January that the amendment to the ordinance created nothing new, but simply expanded the protections.
“This is adding two or three more protected classes for non-discriminatory protected issues,” Baldwin said.
The request for the amendment came last year and was met with some early opposition, but Martinsburg city officials say those concerns were addressed after the initial draft.
At least six municipalities in West Virginia have adopted similar ordinances.