Thursday, April 10, 2008

Detroit and Kansas City Pass Transgender Protections


It continues to be a major source of irritation to me when city after city and state after state passes transgender protections and the Feds still obstinately don't get it. (or don't want to get it in Barney's case)

You can now add Kansas City, MO and Detroit to the ever lengthening list of 90 municipalities, 12 states, and Washington, D.C., in providing such protection

Yesterday the Detroit City Council voted 8-1 to amend the City's nondiscrimination ordinance to included transgender people.

"The Detroit City Council believes that it is a necessity for every Detroit citizen to be protected from all forms of discrimination, injustice, and harm, " said Kenneth Cockrel, Jr., Detroit City Council President. It is for this reason that the Detroit City Council affirms the addition of gender identity as a protected class within its Human Rights Ordinance. The practices and policies of the City of Detroit should promote a public confidence in the fairness and equal treatment of any and all human beings. Detroit is a welcoming city, and all of our policies must reflect this openness and commitment to social justice. The Detroit City Council expresses the desire for justice for everyone."

On April 2 the City Council of Kansas City unanimously voted to add gender identity and expression as protected categories in the city’s nondiscrimination policies.

Councilmember Beth Gottstein, who sponsored the measure, said, “If our city code doesn’t protect everyone, it protects no one. I am proud that we have taken this action to make clear that no one in Kansas City should have to face discrimination.”

Mayor Mark Funkhouser said, “Perhaps it was an oversight that gender identity was not included in the original legislation. If so, it was a mistake that we must now right.”

So Ted and Barney, what's holding y'all back?

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