See also Liberty Town enacts civil rights for transgenders,
press release from National Transgender Advocacy Coalition
It is another great day for transgender people in Pennsylvania
by Mara Keisling
Pennsylvania Gender Rights Coalition (PAGRC)
May 16, 2002The Philadelphia City Council today passed legislation adding the category of
"gender identity" to it Fair Practices Act by a vote of 15 to 2. A strong
coalition of transgender and other progressive LGBT activists worked to
promote this historic legislation which makes Philadelphia the second largest
city in the country to fairly protect its transgender citizens.Philadelphia is now the sixth jurisdiction in Pennsylvania to have this
coverage. The others are Harrisburg, Pittsburgh, York, Erie County and
Allentown. No other state in the country has as many jurisdictions covered
(Minnesota and Rhode Island have statewide laws.) We are now protected in
the four largest cities in Pennsylvania.Importantly, this is the third local ordinance victory for transgender
Pennsylvanians this year with Allentown and Erie County both happening within
the past few months. Once Mayor Street signs the bill-which he is expected
to shortly-almost 2.5 million Pennsylvanians or 19% of the state will be
living in jurisdictions where gender identity protections exist.The ordinance was sponsored by Councilperson Frank DiCiccio and spectacularly
managed by his capable legislative assistant David Fitz. Every council
member EXCEPT Brian O'Neill and Joan Krajewski voted for the bill.Victories like this only happen with the collaboration of many people. In
addition to Councilperson DiCiccio and David Fitz, special thanks should be
sent to many folks. Without the support of these people and groups, many of
whom are not transgender, this law would not have passed. We strongly urge
you to consider supporting the work of the following groups in any way you
can.The legislative effort was initiated and essentially led by OutFront, a
Philly advocacy group. In particular Kathy Padilla (also of NTAC), Doug
Shaps and Michael Williams put a lot of effort into this. Also vital to the
effort was the Center for Lesbian and Gay Civil Rights which has embraced
transgender people in its mission and is doing wonderfully work for us every
day. The Center's Executive Director Stacey Sobel and her staff worked
tirelessly on this victory. Another amazing partner in this effort was the
National Gay and Lesbian Taskforce (NGLTF) which graciously provided
Transgender Project Attorney Lisa Mottet. There were, of course, also many
other transgender people involved, but it is important that we recognize the
assistance transgender people get from our LGBT allies and to mutually
support their work in any way we can. For more information on these groupsThe trick now is three-fold. First, we need to leverage these victories in
Pennsylvania's largest cities toward additional civil rights-in other
counties and cities as well as statewide. Please contact us if you would
like to begin an effort in your city or county or town. It requires local
people doing the work. Also victories this coming Tuesday of Ed Rendell who
is running for Governor and Allen Kuckovich who is running for Lt. Gov. will
greatly aid our chances of passing statewide protections. They have both
personally promised us their support, and more importantly their leadership,
for our civil rights efforts.Second, and, as importantly, we need to help defend our newfound rights in
Allentown against a small group of religious extremists who want to take back
what we have won. (We still need more people to be at voting places in
Allentown this coming Tuesday to talk with voters. Lots of time slots are
still available.)Third, the new law is nothing if it is not implemented in a useful way. To
that end, the Philadelphia Commission on Human Rights, the city office
charged with enforcing this new ordinance, has asked that we help them learn
more about transgender people so that they can better work with businesses to
implement this new law. In the coming weeks and months we will contact you
all again asking for assistance on this.It's another great day for transgender Pennsylvanians.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: DATED MAY 17, 2002
From: the NATIONAL TRANSGENDER ADVOCACY COALITION (NTAC)
CONTACT PERSON: VANESSA EDWARDS FOSTER; HOUSTON, TEXAS
CONTACT EMAIL: NTACMEDIA@AOL.COM
MEDIA@NTAC.ORG
CONTACT PHONE: 832-483-9901
WEBSITE: HTTP://WWW.NTAC.ORGLIBERTY TOWN ENACTS CIVIL RIGHTS FOR TRANSGENDERS
NTAC, OUTFRONT, PAGRC AND OTHERS COALESCE FOR HISTORIC BILL
Philadelphia City Council overwhelmingly passed an amendment to its city code to expand nondiscrimination laws to cover transgenders. The May 16 vote passed with fifteen council members voting for the amendment, and only two opposing.
Proposal Number 010719, sponsored by Philadelphia Councilman Frank DiCicco, adds the category "gender identity" -- which defines the term to include expressions, behaviors and characteristics -- to the city's anti-discrimination section of the city code. In a press release, DiCicco, sponsor of the bill, said, "It is the right thing to do for this community, and in line with most other municipalities in the country."
The Philadelphia city code was amended in 1982 to cover sexual orientation. Mayor John Street, who supported the bill, is expected to sign it into law.
This past December, Legal Advocacy Group members Mike Williams, and Chris Bartlett of the Mayor's LGBT Advisory Board reviewed the Philadelphia City Code and recognized the absence of transgender protections. Williams and Executive Director Doug Shaps of Outfront, as well as Kathy Padilla, a Board Member of the National Transgender Advocacy Coalition (NTAC), were at the forefront of the effort to close the last loophole of discrimination.
They began the process of collecting data and testimony, and simultaneously began building a coalition of local, state and national transgendered, gay, lesbian and bisexual support.
"Victories like this only happen with the collaboration of many people," said Mara Keisling, Director of the Pennsylvania Gender Rights Coalition (PAGRC). One of the first ones brought in to assist the effort, Keisling added "there are thousands of trans-gendered people in Philadelphia, who every day face discrimination in housing and employment."
"This is a fabulous statement of support for the rights of all Philadelphians."
In addition to PAGRC, the coalition searched both locally and nationally for other coalition members. The National Gay & Lesbian Task Force (NGLTF), the National Center for Gay & Lesbian Civil Rights (NCGLCR), and the transgender support group, Renaissance, all played a part in the successful vote.
"Philadelphia is once again the cradle of liberty," said NTAC's Kathy Padilla, also a board member of Outfront. "All of us are holding are heads higher knowing that transgender people enjoy the civil rights of all Philadelphians."
"Today marks yet another milestone for City Council and for the City of Philadelphia," added Mike Williams, Board Chair of Outfront. "Philadelphia's long commitment to the fair and equal treatment of all of its citizens continued with Council's passage of this legislation."
The Philadelphia Daily News came out with an editorial the day of the amendment vote, supporting most of the tenets of the spirit of the bill, but questioning the restroom issue. Accompanying the article in the print edition was a rather unflattering caricature of a yelling drag queen.
According to Padilla of NTAC, after the vote, one of the city council committee chairs mentioned the council members prior to convening had discussed the editorial. Reportedly the article was "so offensive that it strengthened [city council's] resolve to vote for the Bill".
Philadelphia now joins five other local municipal governments in Pennsylvania with nondiscrimination laws for gender nonconforming citizens. Pennsylvania is the only state ever to have six municipalities covering gender identity in civil rights legislation.
- 30 -