Tulsa Approves Nondiscrimination Policy

Following a decades-long battle by gay rights advocates, the city council of Tulsa, Okla., voted Thursday evening to add protections for sexual orientation to the nondiscrimination policy for city employees.

According to News on 6, the measure passed by a vote of 6-3. It adds sexual orientation to a list of protected classes, including race, sex, religion, ancestry, age, and disability.

"Before a packed house Thursday night, the Tulsa city council approved a new employment policy prohibiting discrimination based on sexual orientation," reported News on 6. "The policy applies to city employees in every aspect of employment."

Tulsa World reports that the mood was celebratory at the Dennis R. Neill Equality Center after the vote.

"Oklahomans for Equality released a statement saying the vote marked a 35-year journey to equality, beginning with a 1975 report commissioned by then-mayor Robert LaFortune," reported Tulsa World. "That report recommended that the city adopt the nondiscrimination policy."

Watch the report from News on 6.