Go Vermont!

VT Senate Approves Gender Identity Non-Discrimination Bill

By Ross Sneyd
Associated Press Writer
(Boston Globe)
May 3, 2006

MONTPELIER, Vt. --A bill that would prohibit discrimination based on someone's gender identity or expression won approval in the Senate on Wednesday, boosting chances that it will pass this session

The bill would make it illegal to deny someone a job, a home or
other public accommodations because he or she had gone through a sex change operation or because a person presented himself or herself in a different gender.

"This has nothing to do with morality," said Senate Majority Leader
John Campbell, D-Windsor. "This has everything to do with
understanding and compassion."

The proposal has been intensely debated in recent weeks in the
Senate Judiciary Committee and it appeared possible that it would
not emerge before the Legislature adjourned for the year, which
could come as soon as this weekend.

But it now seems likely to pass. When it came up on the Senate
calendar late Wednesday, it was quickly debated and passed and then
forwarded immediately to the House. House leaders said they were
likely to concur with changes the Senate made to the bill and send
it to the governor.

"I am so excited," said Christopher Kaufman, executive director of
the RU1.2? Community Center in Burlington. "It's going to make a
huge difference. People are going to feel like they have protections
in this state."

Opponents were angry, however, because they did not believe they
were given sufficient opportunity to testify as the bill was being
developed in the House or debated in the Senate Judiciary Committee.

"The whole process was rammed through and it was never fair from the start," said Kevin Blier of Vermont Renewal.

He complained that some terms in the bill were ambiguous and would
be open to interpretation by the courts. Blier said it might permit
a teacher who had appeared in a classroom as a man to return as a
woman. "The public has to wonder whether that's appropriate in a
kindergarten classroom or a high school classroom," he said.

Despite some tense moments, including a brief recess by a visibly
angry Lt. Gov. Brian Dubie at one point to confer with Senate
leaders, the bill passed with little opposition.

If Gov. Jim Douglas signs the bill into law, Vermont would become
the eighth state to prohibit discrimination based on gender identity
or expression.


C Copyright 2006 Associated Press. All rights reserved.