transgender rights

Even though Congress repealed the "don't ask, don't tell" policy that banned gay members of the military of serving openly, a ban remains on transgendered people serving in the military, the Washington Post reports: "The ban remains firmly in place, with about two dozen service members known to have been discharged over the past two years, according to advocates." About 15,500 transgender people are serving in the military, the Willliams Institute estimates.

The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has filed a two lawsuits against companies in Michigan and Florida for allegedy discriminating against transgender employees, the Los Angeles Times reports: "Both lawsuits cite violations under the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which offers protections against sexual discrimination, in a move that marks the first time the federal government has used the law to protect transgender workers against private companies, according to the EEOC."

Two years ago, the EEOC ruled for the first time that discrimination against transgender employees is covered by the Civil Rights Act, the LA Times further reports.

The Indian Supreme Court has recognized transgendered people as a third gender, The Times of India reports: "In a landmark judgment, the Supreme Court on Tuesday created the 'third gender' status for hijras or transgenders. Earlier, they were forced to write male or female against their gender." That means transgendered people in India can have protection from discrimination at work and in school. However, the court limited its ruling to eunuchs, not others who identify as transgender.

Click on over to Page 29 of b, a publication of the Baltimore Sun, on how the next frontier for LGBT rights in Maryland (after establishing same-sex marriage) is the fight for trans rights. b reports: "Maryland, like 34 other states, lacks laws prohibiting discrimination on the basis of gender identity--laws that would protect transgender people ... and others who transgress traditional notions of male and female."

One positive development: the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission ruled that transgender people were protected from job discrimination by Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, b also reports.