The Carmel City Council narrowly passed a city-wide anti-discrimination ordinance at its meeting Monday.
"We're not giving homosexuals special rights," said council President Rick Sharp, who was quick to clarify the law after it passed.
"We are saying this is a community that is open to all, and there will be fair treatment to all," Sharp said.
The law, intended to protect LGBT citizens from discrimination, was discussed and postponed in the largely-conservative city for weeks. It passed just days after the Carmel City Council's finance committee suggested it do so, after amending the law to give businesses cited for discrimination one chance to remedy any issues before being fined.
Two hours of public comments before the final vote featured many of the same arguments heard in previous meetings. Christian faith was cited on both sides, as different Bible passages were read either as support for religious liberty or as condemnation for discrimination.
Many of those opposed said they are fearful the law will infringe on their religious freedom and First Amendment rights, and some said their religion tells them homosexuality is a sin.
As one commenter put it, "Yes, our God is a God of love. But he's also a God who abhors sin."
Supporters of the bill stressed the importance of attracting new business to Carmel, and of attracting LGBT citizens who might feel unwelcome in a post-RFRA climate.
The prevailing argument from those opposed, however, was that Carmel doesn't need the ordinance because no such discrimination occurs.
Council member Luci Snyder talked about the quagmire in crafting the law, since she saw people on both sides of the debate holding legitimate points. She also said vague language in the bill could lead to unnecessary litigation.
"This ordinance has some holes in it," Snyder said, before declaring she couldn't vote for it to pass.
Council member Ron Carter spoke in support, comparing the law and its opposition to the social climates surrounding both Women's suffrage and the Civil Right's Movement.
Carter said he disagrees with many of the Biblical interpretations used to justify opposition to the bill, pointing out that Jesus Christ cared for those on the fringe of society.
Council Vice President Kevin Rider spoke in opposition of the bill, saying certain amendments could have convinced him to change his mind, but that he couldn't support a law set out to solve an unsolvable problem.
"You can't fix stupid," Rider said. "It's not a flawed concept - it's flawed legislation."
Council member Sue Finkam pledged her support, saying that religious freedom does not give anyone the right to discriminate against others.
