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City Council Passes Anti-Discrimination Ordinances

By Kerri Provost

January 11, 2011

Hartford’s City Council voted on Monday evening — unanimously — in favor of not one, but two, ordinances to ward off discrimination based on gender identity and expression. The press release follows:

The Council’s action makes Hartford the first municipality in Connecticut to have anti-discrimination provisions on the basis of gender identity and expression. This ordinance adds gender identity or expression to race, color, religious creed, sex, age, national origin, marital status, sexual orientation, ancestry, disability as classes protected from discrimination in City employment, employment with City contractors and housing. It also mandates that gender identity be incorporated into the City’s Affirmative Action Plan and also allows aggrieved individuals to seek redress with the City’s Office of Human Relations.

Regina Dyton, chairperson of the Hartford LGBT Commission was quoted as saying: “I appreciate the generations of work and organizing of the transgender community. The LGBT commission acknowledges and is immeasurably grateful for the hard work of those that came before us in making this ordinance possible.”

Cindy Dubuque, secretary of the LGBT Commission stated: “The passage of this ordinance is a great first step within the state of CT. Hartford has proven to be a leader on policy matters related to equality based on gender identity and gender expression. I hope that our state legislature will follow Hartford’s leadership.”

Jerimarie Liesegang of the CT TransAdvocacy Coalition expressed: “CT TransAdvocacy is pleased to have worked with the LGBT commission in its tireless efforts to secure passage of this important ordinance. This ordinance will have a very positive impact on the Hartford transgender community and sends a strong message that Hartford embraces the diversity of its residents.”