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Senate narrowly passes bill prohibiting transgender discrimination in Nevada
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LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL CAPITAL BUREAU
CARSON CITY -- Employers could not discriminate against transgender people under a bill approved Wednesday on a narrow 11-10 vote in the state Senate.
Of the upper house's 11 Democrats, all but Sen. John Lee, D-North Las Vegas, supported Assembly Bill 211. Of the 10 Republicans, only Sen. Ben Kieckhefer of Reno voted for the bill.
Under AB211, employers could not discriminate against people based on their gender "identity or expression," which could be opposite of the gender they were assigned at birth. However, employers could require appropriate workplace clothing and grooming standards.
It would become unlawful "to fail to hire or to fire or otherwise discriminate" against transgender people.
The same protection is given to people subjected to discrimination based on their race, color, religion, sex or sexual orientation. Violations of this law are investigated by the Nevada Equal Rights Commission.
The proposal to outlaw job discrimination against transgender people would apply only to employers with 15 or more employees.
"This vote puts Nevada with a small but growing group of states that stand for equality for transgender people," said Lauren Scott, a transgender woman and Air Force veteran who leads Equality Nevada.
The nonpartisan organization fights for the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex people.
"It is very difficult for transgender people to secure meaningful employment," Scott said.
She estimated transgender unemployment at two or three times that of others and said that many are veterans with degrees and experience who would be a real asset to the Nevada economy.
The vote on the bill comes a month after the Assembly approved the same bill 29-13, with all Democrats and three of the 16 Republicans voting for it.
Because the Senate added a minor amendment Saturday, the bill will return to the Assembly for approval of the amendment before it goes to Gov. Brian Sandoval for his veto or signature.
AB211 sponsor Assemblyman Paul Aizley, D-Las Vegas, said last week that he understands the governor will sign the anti-job discrimination bill, although Sandoval's staff repeatedly has said the governor will not give his views on the bill before it reaches his desk.
The vote to outlaw job discrimination came on a day when hearings were conducted on two other bills designed to secure the rights of transgender people.
Less than an hour after the Senate vote, the Assembly Commerce and Labor Committee discussed Senate Bill 331, which would outlaw discrimination against transgender people in public accommodations, such as hotels, motels, restaurants, stores, movies and other places open to the public.
The committee also discussed Senate Bill 368, which would prohibit discrimination against them in renting or purchasing homes or property.
Buildings where the proprietor lives and has five or fewer rooms for rent would be exempt.
No one testified against either bill.
The Nevada Resort Association spoke in favor of the public accommodations bill.
Commerce and Labor Chairman Kelvin Atkinson, D-North Las Vegas, said his committee will decide next week whether to send the two bills to the Assembly floor for final votes. Approval is expected.
Scott said her organization intends to give Sandoval literature showing how 14 other states already prohibit job discrimination against transgender people and note the contributions made by transgenders.
After the vote, Kieckhefer said he opposes dictating policies to employers but added "discrimination offends my sense of right or wrong."
In speaking for the bill on the Senate floor, Sen. David Parks, D-Las Vegas, said that Nevada has a proud history of defending the personal rights of its citizens and that protections for transgender people were long overdue.
Scott sat on the Senate floor next to Parks during the vote on the bill.
Contact Capital Bureau Chief Ed Vogel at evogel@reviewjournal.com or 775-687-3901.
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@ Big Julie - And if you were the one being discriminated against, I have no doubt that you would make just as big a deal about it (if not bigger) and would want the same protection and equality that this law is offering for transgendered people. I bet you're the kind of person who pitches a Grade-A hissy fit when McDonalds messes up your order at the drive through, let alone being fired for something that is innately part of you and that you cannot control. Just sayin.
Another chapter in the lawyers guaranteed employment handbook. If any he,she,it doesn't get hired for any reason lawsuits will be filed and employers will have to spend countless dollars defending themselves as they will be presumed guilty right out of the gate.
A+1=B.
Y+1=Z.
etc.
Cryptography 101.
Don't worry bigotted and unenlightened citizens of Nevada. This law does not prevent you from being ignorant and bigotted in your private life. It just says that if you are in a position to hire and fire people, that the ignorance you indulge in at home can't come into play when deciding who to give a job to or who to fire. All is well. Carry on. OH...and @ blogspot....what does MHCUJ even mean?
I guess NV is turning into San Francisco.
Be careful who you ogle the next time you go to Hooters!
ANOTHER RE-RUN FROM YESTERDAY
Intersex? thats a new one Maybe that means they can diddle themselves
This is the begining of the end. I weep for the future.
J. Edgar Hoover is rolling in his grave at this disrespect.
The headline is quite baiting though. Great job LVRJ. Maybe you can do a piece on how the CCSD supports bullying in their schools. Maybe a headline that reads:
"CCSD Prohibits Prosecution Of Those Who Are A Menace To Education Because Their Police Force Is More Qualified To Handle Injustice Than Real Law Enforcement".
Need examples? Browse the internet for parents who have filed (settled out of court with a gag) or are planning to file lawsuits because the CCSD refuses to admit they have a cancer they feed by not pursuing allegations and doing the right thing. Sad thing is that many of the allegations are on video. Oops, how much has CCSD spent, of tax payer money, to buy up the original and copies? What does it cost for CCSD to have news footage removed (at tax payer expense) from a public television station? Somebody call FOX news and ask them, they have participated in this heinous behavior just recently. Thanks for participating in withholding facts CCSD and FOX.