July 13th, 2016
…by voting on an expanded trans anti-discrimination ordinance:
Cleveland City Council is expected tonight to pass legislation empowering transgender people to choose whichever restroom, shower or locker room aligns with their gender identity, without fear of discrimination.
The measure was introduced in 2013 as part of a package of ordinances that update the city’s existing anti-discrimination laws to include the transgender community. Council’s Committee of the Whole passed the legislation this morning, sending it on to a full council vote.
The legislation removes a passage from the existing nondiscrimination ordinance that allowed for owners of private business with “public accommodations” to discriminate based on a person’s gender identity or expression and dictate which bathroom a person should use, “provided reasonable access to adequate facilities is available.”
Ordinance supporters testified in 2014 that some transgender people avoid using public restrooms out of fear of being attacked, harassed or assaulted.
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Sir Andrew
July 13th, 2016
Now here is a headline phrase that needs to be adjusted. Its clumsiness is horrifying.
“expanded anti-trans discrimination ordinance”
When first I read it, I thought they were voting to increase discrimination against transpeople. Repeated reading didn’t lessen that interpretation. Even reading the story, I had to compare the headline to the story repeatedly to figure out whether it was the blurb that was wrong or the story. I’ve been a journalist for much of my very long adult life and I have to say this confused me.
There has to be a better way to title this.
Jim Burroway
July 13th, 2016
I moved the “anti-“. Hope that helps.
Ben in oakland
July 14th, 2016
I had the same problem. You could have said trans anti-discrimination,or put the hyphen inbeween trans and discrimination.
Hunter
July 14th, 2016
Via Joe.My.God., it passed unanimously: http://www.joemygod.com/2016/07/13/cleveland-city-council-unanimously-approves-transgender-rights-days-ahead-of-gop-convention/
Now Caitlyn Jenner can pee where she wants.
Mark F.
July 14th, 2016
So, a transgender woman who has not had bottom surgery will be allowed to run around nude in a women’s shower or locker room? I think there is a reasonable objection to this that does not apply to private stalls.
JEM
July 15th, 2016
Mark – don’t worry about it. I imagine that you are unlikely to be in a women’s locker room, so it isn’t your problem. My sense from reading and talking to a few trans folk is that they aren’t likely to be doing any running around exposed to strangers, whether they’ve had alignment surgery or not.
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