Brown County Judge Rules De Pere Ordinance Violates Religious Freedom

A Brown County Circuit Court judge has ruled in favor of local churches and against a De Pere city ordinance.  Judge William Atkinson decided that ordinance barring discrimination based on gender identity violates religious freedom.  Churches in De Pere will be exempt.  The city approved the ordinance last year to keep employers, landlords and others from discriminating against individuals based on their gender identity or expression.  Five churches and a Christian radio station sued earlier this year.