HRC Blog

Yesterday, the Hawaii State Senate passed employment protections based on gender identity and expression by a 22-2 vote. The bill contained amendments and will now go back to the House for concurrence before heading to Governor Abercrombie’s desk for his signature.

Last week, the Nevada Senate Committee on Commerce and Labor voted 4-3 on SB331, legislation that would prohibit discrimination on the basis of gender identity or expression in places of public accommodations. The bill sponsored by Senator David Parks, was voted fully along party lines with all four Democrats on the committee voting in favor of transgender protections.

On Tuesday of this week, Texas House of Representatives Criminal Jurisprudence Committee heard testimony on four pro-equality bills. These bills would add gender identity and gender expression to Texas’ hate crimes law, repeal the state’s unconstitutional 'homosexual conduct' law, and remove discriminatory provisions from the state’s age of consent (Romeo and Juliet) laws.

Day two of Nevada Equality Days began with a quick breakfast to get the day started. Each participant was assigned a legislator to sit with during the general session for the day but since we had some time before each chamber met, we each went over talking points and some of us even had the chance to make some quick stops into supportive legislators’ offices. Regional Field Organizer Adrian Matanza and I stopped by our loudest advocate’s office. Senator David Parks, Nevada’s first openly gay legislator also happens to be the lead cosponsor for all of Nevada’s pro-equality legislation. He is a staple of the Las Vegas LGBT community and it was great to see him in his element at the statehouse.

March has been a month of substantial movement in state legislatures on bills relating to gender identity. Though not all of these bills will ultimately become law, hearings and votes highlight the seriousness of the discrimination faces by the trans community. On Saturday, The Maryland House passed a non-discrimination bill adding gender identity to the state’s civil rights laws for the purposes of employment, housing, and credit. The bill moves to the Senate where it will be considered by the Senate Rules Committee.