News Item

HRC LAUDS CALIFORNIA SENATE FOR PASSING GENDER IDENTITY-INCLUSIVE
NON-DISCRIMINATION MEASURE

7/27/03

Upon Governor's Signature, California Would Become Fourth State with Law Prohibiting Discrimination against Transgender Employees in the Public and Private Sectors.

WASHINGTON - The California Senate voted 23-11 on Thursday evening to pass Assembly Bill 196, a bill introduced by Assemblymember Mark Leno that would add gender identity, appearance and behavior to the state
laws prohibiting discrimination in employment and housing. If the bill is signed by the governor, California would become the fourth state to prohibit such discrimination in the workplace. Equality California (EQCA), the statewide gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender organization, in partnership with the GLBT legislative caucus, has paved the way for this bill's passage, says HRC.

"Thanks to the hard work of Equality California and the many residents who lobbied on this critical measure, state legislators are stepping up to ensure that countless hard-working individuals no longer face harassment and discrimination," said Seth Kilbourn, HRC's national field director. "The governor, too, has heard and will continue to hear from his constituents on the importance of this legislation. We urge him to sign it swiftly into law."

"Gender-based discrimination is a serious, well-documented problem in the state of California," said Geoffrey Kors, EQCA's executive director. "A.B. 196 will provide long overdue protections for those who are fired, evicted or harassed because of their non-conformity with gender stereotypes."

EQCA - formerly California Alliance for Pride and Equality - held a lobby day May 19 in Sacramento. HRC representatives joined a coalition of GLBT activists and allies who spoke out in favor of A.B. 196 and two other bills important to the state's GLBT community. HRC has worked closely with EQCA to target undecided legislators on A.B. 196 and mobilized activists throughout the state to take action through HRC's Online Action Center. HRC also awarded EQCA Equality Fund grants in 2003, 2002 and 2001 totaling $14,000 to support their work.

There is no federal law that prohibits workplace discrimination based on gender identity or sexual orientation. HRC is working with a coalition of transgender community leaders and GLBT litigators to develop a federal measure that would prohibit such discrimination. Three states - Minnesota, New Mexico and Rhode Island - have statutes that explicitly prohibit discrimination based on gender identity. Courts and administrative agencies in five additional states - Connecticut, Hawaii, Massachusetts, New Jersey and New York - and the District of Columbia have interpreted either their sex or disability discrimination statutes to protect transgender people in some circumstances.

The Human Rights Campaign is the largest national lesbian and gay political organization with members throughout the country. It effectively lobbies Congress, provides campaign support and educates the public to ensure that lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Americans can be open, honest and safe at home, at work and in the community.