CHARLESTON, W.Va.—Leaders of the ACLU’s West Virginia chapter say Charleston is just the first step in their statewide campaign to ban discrimination in employment and housing on the basis of sexual orientation.

Charleston’s City Council voted Aug. 20 to add gays and lesbians to the city’s human rights ordinance. The ordinance already bars discrimination in employment and housing on the basis of race, color, creed, national origin, sex, age or physical disability.

West Virginia ACLU Director Andrew Schneider said Charleston is the first government in West Virginia to prohibit discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation.

Schneider said the ACLU will lobby other cities to take similar action, and he believes the campaign will be successful.

“It’s definitely one of our issues. We’re certainly about making West Virginia a place that both upholds and advances civil liberties for everyone,” Schneider said.