Wisconsin's liberal capital city grants same protections to atheists given to gays

Breaking with states like Indiana and Arkansas that are protecting religious freedoms, Wisconsin's proudly liberal capital city is moving to make sure atheists aren't discriminated against.

In what is believed to be the first law of its kind in the United States, Madison banned discrimination against non-religious people earlier last month.

Without dissent, the City Council voted to make atheists and non-religious people a protected class in the areas of employment, housing and public accommodations.

The ordinance's author Anita Weier, who identifies as non-religious, says she wrote the ordinance because she worried atheists could be discriminated against for not practicing a religion.

Madison Chamber of Commerce president Zach Brandon says the ordinance is unnecessary and dilutes the original intention to ban discrimination against protected classes.