"Following on the footsteps of a watershed year, 2006 saw increased visibility and political gains for the U.S. trans community. Here are some examples:
1. With the Gwen Araujo Justice for Victims Act, California became the first state to outlaw gay panic or trans panic defenses to justify violence."
Article cont'd. (http://www.sfbaytimes.com/article_p.php?article_id=5923)
Quote2. Several jurisdictions, including Washingtons Metropolitan King County (Seattle), and Boise, Idaho added gender identity to anti-discrimination laws.
Not to mention the ENTIRE STATE of Washington now has anti-discrimination laws for LGBT (especially the T part in our case), which went into effect in June.
Melissa
New Jersey also banned discrimination based on "gender identity or expression."