The city of Fort Worth voted in favor of outlawing transgender discrimination during a heated City Council meeting on Tuesday, the Star-Telegram reported. The city's anti-discrimination ordinance already protects based on race, sex, religion and sexual orientation in the areas of housing, employment and public accommodations.

The 6-3 vote came late after a day of heated rhetoric on several additional gay rights proposals, including extending benefits to the spouses of gay city employees.

Also being considered are ordinances that would consider a company's record on gay rights when approving tax breaks and adding gender reassignment surgery to the city's health insurance plan.

The measures are being floated after a June raid on a gay bar, the Rainbow Lounge, that created a firestorm of protest from the gay community. Police stormed the bar with paddy wagons in tow and arrested six people for public intoxication. Patrons say excessive force was used during the bar check and two men were treated for serious injuries. A recently released police report on the use of force cleared officers of wrongdoing and prompted renewed calls by gay activists for an independent investigation.

Conservatives showed up Tuesday to protest the measures.

“I'm not sure that providing a benefit for sex change operations or providing a domestic partner benefit, I'm not sure that that fixes what happened at the Rainbow Lounge,” Stephanie Klick, chairwoman of the Tarrant County Republican Party, told the paper.

Klick called the measures a “spending spree” the city could not afford.

“Being a transgender person has nothing to do with a person's ability to do their job,” Victoria Van Fleet, a transgender woman, testified.

Conservatives called the proposals an affront on traditional morals. “Is it our city's responsibility to take taxpayer money and promote a lifestyle based on sexual preference or gender identity?” asked Richard Clough, a conservative Republican.

Outside, members of the Dallas-based Queer LiberAction group protested the police raid on the Rainbow Lounge. They called the 1-to-3 day suspensions given to police officers too light a punishment.

On Tuesday, with the endorsement of the Mormon Church, Salt Lake City became the first city in the state of Utah to approve an anti-discrimination law based on sexual orientation and gender identity.