The Grand Island City Council has overridden a mayoral veto and enacted city employment protection for gay, bisexual and transgender people.

The ordinance change adds protection to only city policies and doesn’t affect any other employer in the south-central Nebraska community.

The Grand Island Independent says  the proposal passed on a 6-4 vote Tuesday night. Then the council voted 8-2 to override a veto by Mayor Jay Vavricek, who said he saw the ordinance change as merely symbolic.

The council on Oct. 9 rejected a measure that would have barred businesses from discriminating against current or prospective employees based on their sexual orientation. It also would have covered housing and retail situations.