Guest Post: The Definition Of "Gender Identity Or Expression" Included In The Connecticut Non-Discrimination Law
Saturday September 10, 2011 7:30 am
Guest post by: Jennifer L. Levi, Transgender Rights Project Director for the Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders (GLAD)
http://pamshouseblend.firedoglake.com/2011/09/10/guest-post-the-definition-of-%E2%80%9Cgender-identity-or-expression%E2%80%9D-included-in-the-connecticut-non-discrimination-law/?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter#While I was recently crowing about our tremendous legislative victory in Connecticut getting a transgender non-discrimination law passed, someone mentioned to me that there were rumors spreading from within the transgender community that there should be cause for concern because of the definition of "gender identity or expression" ultimately included in the law. Apparently, some people were saying that the language "sold out the non-transsexual part of the community," by requiring evidence of medical transition; others said it was introduced by some segment of the feminist community to limit the scope of the protections. Both are complete falsehoods.
To say that I was surprised and concerned is somewhat of an understatement. Given how hard, tirelessly and cooperatively our coalition of advocates had worked over the last 7 years to get this law passed, I was disturbed that anyone, not to mention anyone within our community, would question the strength of the law, or the commitment of its supporters.
