The City Council is set to protect transgender individuals from discrimination thanks to a preliminary vote to expand the city’s human rights ordinance.
On Nov. 5 the council voted on expanding the ordinance and the inclusive decision could become law by the end of the month. The council will vote again on the ordinance on Nov. 19. Even though it is probable that the ordinance will pass, there was still some confusion regarding transgenderism and cross dressing.
“Is it today that I’m sitting next to Albert and tomorrow I’m sitting next to Alice?” asked Council member Charlie Miranda. He added that if someone has had a sex change, he or she should be protected.
“I just want to be perfectly clear,” Miranda said. “I’m not looking to see that same person change over and change back on a daily basis. That would be disruptive.”
The issue is about discrimination, not cross-dressing, council chair Tom Scott said. All but one councilmember voted to preliminarily approve the ordinance. Joseph Caetano cast the only “no” vote in the 6-1 decision. He said he wanted to see an ordinance that specifically said it wouldn’t protect cross-dressers.
“If a gentleman dresses up as a woman, does he have the right to go into a ladies’ restroom?” Caetano asked. “I think this is going to create a lot of problems.”
But the rest of the council disagreed and Mary Mulhern said adding Caetano’s amendment would add more discrimination rather than prevent it. John Dingfelder agreed with Mulhern.
“It’s the government’s role to be sure there is no discrimination against anybody,” Dingfelder said, “whether they’re Tom, Theresa or back and forth.”
