The Johnstown City Council passed one of two anti-discrimination bills Wednesday night.
The council passed Bill 6, which covers hiring practices for city employees, but they voted to table Bill 5 because of confusion over who and what it protects.
Community members on both sides of the issue butted heads during the meeting and before, holding rallies downtown.
“We didn’t choose to be the way we are. We knew since we were young kids,” said one LGBT Johnstown resident.
“In this country, we have a right to prefer our lifestyle to yours. It doesn’t give me the right to trample on yours, but it doesn’t give you the right to trample on mine,” said a bishop who opposed the bill.
Now, the council members are asking the public to share their opinions while the council researches what the bill would mean for the city.
While the council didn’t give a specific timeline, they could potentially vote to remove Bill 5 from the table for another vote at the next council meeting in April.