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Tampa City Council to vote today on transgender protections

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By CHRISTIAN M. WADE | The Tampa Tribune

Published: November 4, 2009

Updated: 11/05/2009 06:56 am

TAMPA - The city council is expected to vote today on a proposal to expand Tampa's anti-discrimination laws to include transgender individuals.

The proposed ordinance, if approved, would extend laws prohibiting discrimination in housing, employment and public accommodations based on sexual orientation, sex, race and religion to include "gender identity or expression" as a protected class.

Tampa's Human Rights Board, which has been discussing the issue for the past year, requested the changes. Mayor Pam Iorio and several council members support it.

At least 13 states across the country and 16 municipalities in Florida, as well as some Fortune 500 companies, have extended such protections to transsexuals, transvestites and any others with a gender identity that differs from their sex at birth.

President Barack Obama's administration is drafting proposed federal guidelines that would prohibit workplace discrimination against transgender federal employees.

The council meets at 9 a.m. in old city hall at 315 E. Kennedy Blvd. in downtown.

Reporter Christian M. Wade can be reached at (813) 259-7679

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