The Seattle City Council has added caste to the city’s anti-discrimination laws, becoming the first U.S. city to specifically ban caste discrimination. Calls to outlaw discrimination based on caste, a division of people based on birth or descent, have grown louder among South Asian diaspora communities in the United States. The movement is getting pushback from some Hindu Americans who argue that such legislation maligns a specific community. Proponents of the ordinance approved by a 6-1 vote Tuesday say caste discrimination crosses national and religious boundaries and that without such laws, those facing caste discrimination in the U.S. will have no protections. The ordinance is a contentious issue, especially among the nation's South Asian diaspora. Supporters argue it is needed because caste is not covered under existing civil rights protections. Groups opposing the measure say it will malign a community that is already the target of prejudice. Council Member Kshama Sawant, a socialist and the only Indian American on the City Council, said the ordinance, which she proposed, does not single out one community, but it accounts for how caste discrimination crosses national and religious boundaries. Subscribe to FOX 13 Seattle: https://www.youtube.com/c/fox13seattle?sub_confirmation=1 Watch FOX 13 Seattle Live: https://www.q13fox.com/live FOX 13 Seattle is Western Washington's source for breaking news, weather, traffic, politics and sports. Download the FOX 13 Seattle News App: https://q13fox.onelink.me/PeGO/7e4d2af8 Download the FOX 13 Seattle Weather App: https://jckig.app.link/dlUcXuM2Peb Subscribe to FOX 13 Seattle newsletters: https://www.q13fox.com/newsletters Follow FOX 13 Seattle on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fox13seattle Follow FOX 13 Seattle on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@fox13seattle Follow FOX 13 Seattle on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fox13seattle Follow FOX 13 Seattle on Twitter: https://twitter.com/fox13seattle