The Ogden City Council has amended anti-discrimination ordinances it adopted last week in a narrow 4-3 vote, avoiding a threatened veto from Mayor Matthew Godfrey.

The ordinances ban housing and employment discrimination based on a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity. Ogden, which is the 12th Utah city or county to adopt such measures, added language to its ordinances to satisfy the mayor that religious expression also would be protected.

The council also agreed to make Ogden exempt from the ordinances to avoid lawsuits, but Godfrey promised to pass an executive order that would require the city not to discriminate based on sexual orientation or gender identity.

The compromise received a unanimous vote from the Ogden City Council.

Here’s what the “expression of religious or other beliefs” clause says:

“A person’s actual or symbolic religious or other deeply held beliefs shall not be the sole basis for a finding of discrimination under this chapter. Expressions of religious or other deeply held beliefs are exempt from this chapter, provided they do not become so pervasive or severe as to alter the terms, conditions or privileges of employment. Religious or other deeply held beliefs may not, however, excuse conduct that otherwise violates this chapter. This chapter is intended to prohibit discriminatory conduct, not punish beliefs or the expression thereof.”