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What's Happening Now? News from HRC Puts Focus on Struggles for Job Security Losses and Gains are Measured in a State-by-State Survey |
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Compiled by Kim I. Mills and Daryl Herrschaft Discrimination Against the Transgendered
Colorado and Vermont--Boulder has become the first city in Colorado to outlaw
discrimination on the basis of gender variance in the areas of employment,
public accommodations and housing.
The City Council voted unanimously on February 1 to add gender variance, defined as "a persistent sense that one's gender identity is incongruent with ones biological sex," to the city's Human Rights Ordinance. The law was to go into effect March 1. The ordinance says employers may require a "reasonably consistent gender presentation," allowing them to limit workers to three gender changes in an 18-month period. City officials estimate the new law would apply to as many as 400 people living and working in Boulder. "I hope this sends a message much further than just our state," Councilwoman Lisa Morzel said. Boulder joins at least 17 other jurisdictions that offer some form of protection for transgendered workers including, San Francisco, Pittsburgh and Lexington, Kentucky., according to the Human Rights Campaign. Meanwhile, Vermont Sen. Dick McCormack, a Democrat, has proposed adding gender identity to the list of protected classes under state anti-discrimination laws. Vermont currently prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, creed, sex, sexual orientation, age, national origin, religion and disability. McCormack described the addition of gender identity as a minor "housekeeping" change, according to the Wall Street Journal. Senator Robert Ide, a Republican and former Senate minority leader, said he would support the measure. "It's just a question of civil rights and equality," he said. "I can't imagine why anyone would oppose it." Iowa Senate Committee Votes to Repeal Governor's Executive Order
Senate Majority Leader Stewart Iverson, a Republican, rejected claims that the Senate proposal was designed to send an anti-gay message to conservative voters. "I think it comes down to what is the role of the Legislature, what is the role of the governor, what is the role of the judicial branch," Iverson told the Mason City (Iowa) Globe-Gazette. Meanwhile, a group of Democratic lawmakers proposed a bill that would prohibit discrimination in employment, housing and credit on the basis of sexual orientation. Sen. Bob Devorsky, a sponsor, said the likelihood of passage was slim but added, "I think it's important the issue is raised." Non-Discrimination Laws Lose & Win in Michigan Ferndale, Michigan--By a margin of fewer than 200 votes of more than 4,500 cast, voters in Ferndale, rejected an ordinance that would have banned discrimination based on sexual orientation. Supporters of the measure vowed to continue the fight and said they would meet in the coming weeks to map out a strategy for reintroduction. Ferndale, located near Detroit, passed the civil rights ordinance last fall, but a petition drive sent the issue to the voters. The defeated measure would have protected gays from discrimination in employment, housing, public accommodations and public services. Meanwhile, in Grand Ledge, Mich., near Lansing, the city council voted 4-3 on January 24 to prohibit job discrimination against gays in the city workforce. The move prompted a letter-writing campaign against the change and plans from some council members to work to overturn the measure. Signature Drive Begins in Miami-Dade
Take Back Miami-Dade, a political action committee made up of the Christian Coalition and several other religious political activist groups, had 60 days from the commission's action to collect the signatures. The coalition is seeking to repeal part of a county ordinance that bans discrimination based on sexual orientation. That measure passed the commission in December 1998 by a 7-6 vote. A similar measure was repealed by voters in 1977 by a 2-1 margin after a bitter campaign led by singer Anita Bryant. Gay advocates expressed confidence that there would not be a repeat and have organized a group called Save Dade to oppose any changes to the ordinance. "We were not organized then because we believed, naively so, in people's fundamental rights," Miami lawyer Branda Shapiro told the Orlando Sentinel. "I don't think its naïve in 2000 to believe most of us really do understand the issue now." Domestic Partner Foes Seek Signatures in Montgomery County, Maryland
Opponents had 90 days after the measure passed to collect the needed signatures. Larry Lauer, one of the group's leaders, told The Washington Post on February 27 that the group might "fall a couple thousand [signatures] short." With Support of Roman Catholic Church, New Proposal Raises Hopes for Civil Rights Law in Maine Augusta, Maine-- A coalition of gay rights advocates have introduced a measure that would ban discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation in housing, public accommodations, credit and employment. The proposal unveiled February 16 is supported by a broad coalition that includes the Roman Catholic Diocese of Portland. The bill includes exemptions for religious organizations but would require those organizations with state contracts to abide by the law. "We believe that the amended bill represents a reasonable and thoughtful resolution to the legitimate concerns that have been raised by persons of good faith with respect to past proposals," the Rev. March Caron, chancellor of the Portland diocese told The Associated Press.
Hawaii Lawmakers Want to Restore Benefits for Gay Couples Honolulu, Hawaii--The co-chairs of the Hawaii Senate Judiciary Committee are moving to restore the "reciprocal beneficiary" benefits for public employees that were part of the compromise for breaking the deadlock over gay marriage in 1997. The unmarried partners of about 60 public employees and retirees lost their health benefits at the end of June 1999 after the Legislature failed to extend the 1997 law providing coverage to domestic couples who cannot legally marry. The Legislature approved the reciprocal beneficiary law to give gay couples some of the same benefits as married couples in anticipation of voter approval in 1998 of a state constitutional amendment banning gay marriages. That amendment passed. The Hawaii Supreme Court ruled last year that gay couples' claims that they are entitled to marriage licenses were moot because of the new amendment. However, it left untouched its 1993 ruling that gay couples are entitled to the same rights and benefits as heterosexual couples. Democratic Sen. Matt Matsunaga said the bill he and Judiciary Co-Chairman Avery Chumbley (D) introduced would restore the health insurance benefits for public employees. Arbitrator Rules for Domestic Partner Benefits in Connecticut Hartford, Connecticut-- The state would be required to offer health benefits to employees in same-sex relationships under an arbitrator's ruling. The ruling Feb. 1 applies only to same-sex couples. It will take effect unless a two-thirds majority of one house of the Legislature determines there is not enough money to pay the benefit. The Legislature began its session February 9 and had 30 days to act. U.S. Department of Interior Reaches Out to Gay-Owned Businesses Washington, D.C.--Officials from the U.S. Department of Interior's Office of Small & Disadvantaged Business Utilization (OSDBU) met with the Human Rights Campaign in February, seeking assistance in reaching out to gay-owned businesses to meet the department's procurement needs. OSDBU Director Robert Faithful said the Interior Department has goals for increased contracting with minority-and women-owned businesses and is now seeking to extend that outreach to include gay-owned businesses. HRC provided Faithful a list of GLBT chambers of commerce and several other resources. For more information about obtaining Interior Department contracts, contact OSDBU at (202) 208-3493 or at www.doi.gov/osdbu. Kim I. Mills is Education Director at the Human Rights Campaign Daryl Herrschaft is a Human Rights Campaign Research Coordinator |
Miami, Florida--The Miami-Dade County Commission gave the green light February 8 to a
coalition of conservative groups to try to collect the 33,400 signatures
needed to place the county's civil rights law protecting gays and lesbians
up for a vote on the September ballot.
