OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) - The City Council in Oklahoma City has voted to change its equal employment opportunity personnel policy and add gays to the list of those protected.

The resolution was recommended by City Council member Ed Shadid. It adds sexual orientation to the list of protected equal employment opportunity classes and passed on a 7-2 vote Tuesday.

City policy already provided equal opportunity without regard to race, creed, ethnic origin, color, religion, disability, sex or age.

Shadid said his instinct as a businessman is to provide equal protection to everyone.

Councilmen Skip Kelly and Larry McAtee voted against the measure saying they see no discrimination against gays in city offices and that federal and state law don't provide explicit protection to gay people.