Vermont Adds Gender Identity to Anti-Discrimination Law
Vermont joins Maine and Rhode Island as the third New England state to protect transgender residents by explicitly banning discrimination based on gender identity. On May 22, 2007, Governor Douglas signed legislation adding “gender identity” to the state’s non-discrimination law.
Similar legislation passed both the House and Senate in early 2006, but the Governor vetoed it, citing reservations about the bill’s language. GLAD worked with partners in Vermont throughout the year to address these concerns, and we are pleased to see the bill pass this session.
“New England is very much leading the country in codifying protections in law for trans people,” says GLAD Attorney Jennifer Levi. “Through both court rulings and legislation, GLAD’s work in New England has laid the foundation for the rest of the country to follow.