But for now here is an update on the Vermont Anti Discrimination bill, I think you all know where I stand on the issue and how I think about the govenor..........
Vermont Governor Vetoes Anti-Discrimination Legislation
May 18, 2006
H-865 Would Have Protected Vermonters from Discrimination Based on “Gender Identity or _Expression”
Washington, DC — On May 17, Governor James Douglas (R) vetoed the will of fair-minded Vermonters by killing H-865, a bill that had garnered strong support in the legislature. The bill would have added “gender identity or _expression” to the state’s existing non-discrimination law. Vermont was poised to become the ninth state in the country to make discriminatory practices based on gender identity or _expression illegal.
Earlier this month, a final 88-47 vote of concurrence in the state legislature had sent the bill to Governor Douglas for consideration. First introduced four years by lead sponsor Representative Bill Lippert (D- Hinesburg), the bill covered employment, housing and public accommodations, and was a reasonable step forward in providing equal protection under the law for all Vermonters. Vermont’s hate crimes law already includes “gender identity” language.
Although eight states, the District of Columbia, and eighty cities and counties have sought to curb rampant discrimination by passing transgender- inclusive anti-discrimination laws, Vermont’s bill was the third within a year to pass through legislatures only to be vetoed at the executive level. Last year, a bill that would have specifically banned employment discrimination based on gender identity or _expression passed through Hawaii’s legislature, but was vetoed by Governor Linda Lingle (R). However, Lingle allowed a bill providing protections in public accommodations to pass into law without her signature in May 2006. Colorado Governor Bill Owens (R) vetoed a non-discrimination bill in 2005 that would have added sexual orientation and gender identity to existing state non-discrimination laws.
“We are very disappointed in Governor Douglas’s decision,” said Christopher Kaufman, executive director of the R.U.1.2? Community Center in Burlington. “This bill would have made a huge difference in the lives of transgender and gender non- conforming Vermonters in terms of the basic necessities—access to jobs, housing and services.”
“We commend the powerful grassroots effort supporting this bill from the R.U.1.2? Community Center, TransAction, and other concerned Vermonters,” said Mara Keisling, executive director of the National Center for Transgender Equality. “Organizers in Vermont were successful in building support for the bill in both houses of the legislature and had a strong ally in Representative Lippert. It is unfortunate that Governor Douglas chose to deny much needed protections to transgender and gender non-conforming people in Vermont. The National Center for Transgender Equality held an advocacy training in Vermont to support local efforts in the state last February.
Recognizing the need to address pervasive discrimination against transgender people, currently eight states, the District of Columbia, and 80 cities and counties across the country have now passed explicitly transgender-inclusive anti-discrimination laws. These laws currently cover 31-percent of the US population.
The R.U.1.2? Community Center will hold a press conference on Thursday, May 18 at 12:00pm in their offices at 34 Elmwood Avenue, Burlington, VT to discuss the Governor’s veto and next steps. For more information on the press conference, please contact Christopher Kaufman at 802-860-7812.
National Center for Transgender Equality
No comments:
Post a Comment