Bill to protect transgender workers from discrimination advances

By Cy Ryan

Saturday, May 7, 2011 | 1:41 p.m.

CARSON CITY – Senate Democrats won a preliminary victory Saturday in pushing forward a bill to prohibit discrimination in employment based on gender identity or expression.

The bill, which was approved by the Assembly 29-13, should come up for final passage next week in the Senate.

Sen. David Parks, D-Las Vegas, offered an amendment to Assembly Bill 211 that would give the state's Equal Rights Commission added authority to investigate allegations of gender identity or expression in the workplace.

Sen. Joe Hardy, R-Boulder City, objected to the word “expression,” saying it sets up a special right for those who are transgender. For example, he said, an employee doesn’t have the right to preach religion in the workplace.

But in a standing vote, Democrats sided with the Parks amendment while Republican senators backed Hardy.

The bill had been approved last month by the Senate Committee on Commerce, Labor and Energy by a 4-3 vote with Republicans opposed.

AB 211 defines gender identity or expression as meaning the gender-related identity, appearance, expression or behavior of a person, regardless of the person’s assigned sex at birth. The bill adds gender identity to other anti-discrimination laws.

Parks had testified at the Senate committee that he was fired from a job because he was gay. He said he tried 12 years ago to include gender identity and expression in a non-discrimination bill, but there were concerns among some lawmakers and it was removed from the bill.

Parks said he believes the bill will pass in the Senate. If approved, it would return to the Assembly for agreement on the amendment by Parks before being shipped to Gov. Brian Sandoval.