MARTINSBURG, W.Va. — In a unanimous vote that was met with a round of applause, the Martinsburg City Council voted in favor of amending the Nondiscrimination Ordinance to include the words “Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity” after its first and second reading.
The ordinance aims to extend employment and public accommodation protections already provided for other classes in state code to include lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender residents.
Pastor John Mason, President of the Eastern Panhandle LGBTQ Alliance, had tears of happiness in his eyes after the vote.
He said during the meeting that as a pastor, it frustrated him to see so many persons of faith against this ordinance out of fear that they might be subject to violations to their freedom.
He explained, “These pastors think that they will lose their right to choose whom they will or will not marry, or whom they will or will not allow to be members of their church; however, that’s a lie. It’s not true, it’s never been true. It’s been a protected right of every pastor. I am a pastor and it’s my protected right, so when you make up a false argument you can get a false following, but when you tell the truth it doesn’t hold up.”
City Attorney Kin Sayre also emphasized that there are exemptions to religious services, which seemed to be the major argument against the amendment.
Vice President of the LGBTQ Alliance, Andrea Cosans, also spoke out at the meeting, saying its a civil rights issue.
“If you discriminate against any one group, there’s a chance that that discrimination can be taken to other groups, such as women, blacks, and anyone who is marginalized.
The City will have its third reading in February.