Twin wins

[Shana A]

Twin wins
Transmissions
Published 10/20/2011

by Gwendolyn Ann Smith

http://www.ebar.com/columns/column.php?sec=transmissions&article=175

In and among hundreds of pieces of legislation, two bills recently crossed California Governor Jerry Brown's desk that directly affect transgender residents of the Golden State.

First is the Gender Non-Discrimination Act, AB 887, which strengthens California's non-discrimination laws. While "gender identity and expression" was already included as a type of gender-based discrimination in the state, this bill separates it into its own protected category, making it that much clearer that discrimination based on gender expression and identity will not fly in California.

It may seem minor, given that such was already part of the law, but having it expressly spelled out will allow California's non-discrimination laws to work better on behalf of transgender people.