East Point adds protections for gay, transgender workers
December 24, 2009 2:06 p.m.
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
by April Hunt
http://www.ajc.com/news/atlanta/east-point-adds-protections-255745.html (http://www.ajc.com/news/atlanta/east-point-adds-protections-255745.html)
East Point has become just the second city in Fulton County -- and one of a handful statewide -- to adopt protections for its gay and transgender employees.
The local law prohibiting discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity, approved by the City Council earlier this week, is almost an afterthought in a city that has offered same-sex domestic partner benefits for employees since 2005.
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This week's vote caps a flurry of similar laws adopted in the past two years by cities in the metro area.
Just last month, Chamblee joined Atlanta, Clarkston, Decatur and Doraville in prohibiting discrimination against gay employees.
In addition to East Point, only Atlanta, Decatur and Doraville extend that protection to transgender workers, or those whose outward appearance or gender identity doesn't match their gender at birth.