(Bismarck, North Dakota) In a bipartisan move the North Dakota Senate has voted to amend the state Human Rights Act to include gays, lesbians and transgenderds.

The Senate voted 27 to 19 with 16 Democrats and 11 Republicans supporting the bill. Supporters say the strong bipartisan support will help the legislation in the House.

The law would protect the LGBT community from discrimination in employment, housing and credit.  It does, however, have a specific exemption for religious organizations.

“This bill will not provide North Dakota citizens special rights because of their sexual orientation,” said Sen. Tom Fiebiger, D-Fargo, the bill’s prime sponsor. “What employers can’t do under this law is fire someone because they’re gay.”

“I’m pretty ecstatic with that vote,” said Mitch Marr, executive director of the North Dakota Human Rights Coalition. “I thought it was pretty significant and a large margin of victory.”

Marr and other members of the coalition watched a Webcast of the vote.

North Dakota law already bans discrimination by race, color, sex, religion, age, national origin and disability. The law also prohibits discrimination based on whether a person is on public assistance, married or unmarried.