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CLAYTON, MO. (KTVI) – Tuesday night the St. Louis County Council passed by a vote of 4-3, legislation protecting the rights of LGBT employees and citizens in unincorporated St. Louis County.

The bill adds gender identity to the county’s anti-discrimination law. The bill also cuts out a loophole in the current non-discrimination law, which allows gay, bi-sexual and transgendered people to be fired from their jobs, denied housing, turned away from public accommodations; based solely on their sexual orientation and gender identity.

Unincorporated St. Louis County has a population of 300,000.

Promo, an advocacy group for LGBT’s welcome the vote, saying “Tonight’s vote by the St. Louis County Council is a recognition of all the hardworking lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender citizens of St. Louis County.”

St. Louis County Remedies Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Discrimination