Anyone who has grown up in and then departed my hometown of Kalamazoo, Mich., has faced the same question from curious acquaintances: “You’re from where?” The city’s name owes to the Native American heritage of the state. Despite a population of 80,000 and various song lyrics that have spread its fame, its whimsical sound prompts disbelief that such a town exists.

There has been nothing whimsical about the antigay campaigns in local politics of the past decade. On November 3, Kalamazoo took a giant step toward creating a welcoming environment for all residents. Voters turned back a political attack on gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people by upholding the city’s human rights ordinance.

The victory came in a 62% yes vote in a city referendum on whether a nondiscrimination ordinance covering sexual orientation and gender identity should be retained. The raw numbers were 4,731 ballots cast to reject the measure and 7,671 votes to keep it.