Via Shutterstock.

Via Shutterstock.

Magic folk of Northern Virginia, rejoice! For no longer will your presence be unwelcome in the town of Front Royal.

Yesterday, the Front Royal Town Council moved toward repealing a decades-old town code that prohibits fortunetellers, “gypsies,” and “magic arts,” Northern Virginia Daily reports. The long-standing town law has come under fire lately for: A) being outdated; B) containing “pejorative and insulting” language like the term “gypsies;” and C) violating First Amendment free speech rights.

The Council voted 4-3 to pass a motion to repeal the law on a first reading, with more than 50 people in attendance—and even more gathered outside the Warren County Government Center “to pray before the meeting.” Naturally, it was a contentious reading for Front Royal residents.

“I feel like we’re in the movie Footloose but reversed where kids wanted to dance but the state said they couldn’t and here we are, the folks in the community saying ‘please impose our moral viewpoint on everyone else,'” Councilmember Bret Hrbek reportedly said. Some residents did not agree, while others, who said they were raised or are practicing Catholics agreed that it’s time to strike down ban. And then there were others, who felt strongly about why the Council would “take the action to benefit pagans.” From NVD:

Elizabeth Poel asked council why it would take the action to benefit pagans—a small part of the population. Poel suggested the town adjust the license fee for inflation to $2,987 by her calculations and include more questions on the business license application, she added. Poel also linked the thrift store on Main Street and the tarot-card reading operation to the Center for Workforce Development and its efforts to provide opportunities to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender youth. Poel said she surmised the center plans to recruit youth to increase the number of homosexuals in Front Royal.

“We do not advocate abuse or harm to any homosexuals,” Poel said. “Such would be contrary to the virtue of charity. However, homosexuals do not usually extend such charity much less tolerance toward homosexuals who do not agree with them. You need to understand that most parents want neither pagan practitioners nor homosexuals to have access to the minds, bodies and souls of their children.”

Poel told council a “strong connection” exists between homosexuality and paganism.