EVANSVILLE, Ind. (AP): Evansville officials have voted to give a commission enforcement and investigatory powers into claims of discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity.

The Evansville Courier & Press reports the City Council voted 7-2 Monday night to give the powers to the Human Relations Commission.

Sexual orientation and gender identity were already a protected class in city code, but investigations were voluntary, meaning a case would be closed if the accused party didn’t comply with an investigation.

The amendment approved Monday gives the commission authority to investigate discrimination claims as it does for race, sex, age, religion, disability, national origin or ancestry.

The change exempts churches, religiously affiliated nonprofits, religious schools and other official religious organizations from the commission’s reach to enforce.