Racine Common Council Expands Non-Discrimination Protections to Include Gender Identity

by Ianthe Metzger

MILWAUKEE -- The Human Rights Campaign (HRC), the nation’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) civil rights organization, hailed the Racine Common Council for passing an ordinance expanding city-wide non-discrimination protections in housing, public accommodations and employment to include gender identity. The City’s current non-discrimination law already covers sexual orientation. Racine is the fourth city in Wisconsin to pass such an ordinance.

“Like so many cities across the country, Racine, Wisconsin has made clear that all its residents deserve to be treated with dignity, respect and equality, regardless of who they are or who they love,” said HRC Wisconsin State Director Wendy Strout. “Today the Racine Common Council proudly affirmed the city’s support for the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer community, and moved the Badger State forward on the road to equality.”

Wisconsin is one of 30 states without fully-inclusive, comprehensive state-level non-discrimination protections. The Privacy Protection and Gender Identity Non-Discrimination Act would add gender identity and expression to Wisconsin’s pre-existing non-discrimination protections that currently cover sexual orientation in employment, housing, public spaces and education.

The Human Rights Campaign is America’s largest civil rights organization working to achieve equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer people. HRC envisions a world where LGBTQ people are embraced as full members of society at home, at work and in every community.

 

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Topics:
Transgender