Kansas City, MO City Council Extends Anti-Discrimination Protections to Gender Identity

by Admin

WASHINGTON- Today the Kansas City, MO City Council unanimously approved an ordinance updating its anti-discrimination prohibitions to include gender identity. Kansas City joins more than 90 cities and counties as well as twelve states, the District of Columbia, and hundreds of private employers in prohibiting employment discrimination based on gender identity. The ordinance also prohibits discrimination in public accommodations and housing.

Councilperson Beth Gottstein, the measure's primary sponsor 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."

Jim MacDonald, President of Four Freedoms, a local LGBT political organization, praised the Council for its unanimous approval of the ordinance: "This vote represents an historic moment for the LGBT community in Kansas City. Never before has there been unanimous council support for an LGBT rights measure. It is truly a mark of how far we have come."

The Human Rights Campaign congratulates Mayor Mark Funkhouser, the Kansas City, MO City Council, Four Freedoms, the ACLU of Kansas and Western Missouri, PROMO and the Kansas City Pride Democratic Club, who formed a coalition that worked for the passage of the ordinance.


The Human Rights Campaign is America's largest civil rights organization working to achieve gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender equality. By inspiring and engaging all Americans, HRC strives to end discrimination against GLBT citizens and realize a nation that achieves fundamental fairness and equality for all.

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