Council Passes Transgender Bill; Mayor Says He'll Sign

[NEW YORK, NY] - The City Council approved a bill outlawing discrimination against transgendered people on Wednesday and the mayor said he will sign it into law.

The bill's sponsors said new legislation is necessary to clarify the existing Human Rights Law to include transgendered individuals who continue to be discriminated against in housing, employment and other areas.

The bill, which passed 45-5 with one abstention, would amend the law by including a person's "gender identity, self image, appearance, behavior or expression" as part of the city's prohibition against gender discrimination.

Council members opposed to the bill said they believed bias against transgendered people is already illegal.

In a statement, Mayor Michael Bloomberg said he also believed the bill was unnecessary, but that the council's overwhelming support changed his mind.

"In the past, I expressed the belief that this legislation is extraneous because transsexuals are protected under the current human rights law," said Bloomberg. "However,
considering its strong support in the council, I plan on signing it into law."

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