Wed, Nov. 27, 2002 San Jose Mercury News

City council Members Unanimously Approve Anti-bias
Protections for Transgender People

Prompted by the recent slaying of a transgender teen in Newark, the San
Jose City Council voted unanimously Tuesday to add transgender people to
the list of groups protected under the city's anti-discrimination policy.

Councilman Ken Yeager proposed changing san Jose's harassment policy
after learning about the beating death of Eddie Araujo--also known as
Gwen--last month. Araujo was killed after his dual identity was
discovered at a party, authorities say.

Members of the Bay Area Municipal Elections Committee, a gay and lesbian
political advocacy group that Yeager co-founded in 1984, approached
Yeager and Mayor Ron Gonzales about the amendment, which will add
protections for gender identity. Current protections include race, color,
ethnicity, national origin, disability, age, sex, marital status, sexual
orientation and religion.

According to Yeager, cities including San Francisco, New York City,
Detroit, Pittsburgh, Dallas, and Seattle have adopted similar policies.
Yeager said he knows of only one transgender city employee in San Jose,
but companies that receive city contracts also would have to comply, he
said.

Sent by. .
/\\//\ Gwendolyn Ann Smith * www.gwensmith.com
> () < Columnist, Bay Area Reporter & Philadelphia Gay News
\/()\/ Board Member, FTMI * Board Member, GEA
"I want this to be a harmony of voices" - Lauren D. Wilson