Dallas Transgender Advocates and Allies Calls on DART to Write "Unequivocal" Transgender Protections

For Immediate Release
June 25, 2010

Contact
Kelli Anne Busey
kellibusey@yahoo.com

Dallas Transgender Advocates and Allies(DTAA) Calls on DART to be faithful to resolution 950155 passed on June 22, 2010.

The DTAA calls on DART to craft it's nondiscrimination policy so that DART protects it's transgender, Gay, Lesbian and heterosexual employees "unequivocally" as promised.

Retaining or revising DART's current ambiguous nondiscrimination policy and definitions would invite interpretations that could allow discrimination and potentially costly litigation.

Transgender advocates and allies attending the June 22, 2010 Board meeting applauded the unanimous passage of resolution 950155 which states;

"It is the intention of the DART board to adopt language at DART that unequivocally prohibits discrimination against persons based upon their gender identity and gender expression.

The DTAA calls on DART to examine the Fort Worth Municipal nondiscrimination Ordinance passed in 2009 as a example that it my use in writing a nondiscrimination policy that is faithful to Resolution 950155.

Sec. 17-66. - Definitions.

"Sexual orientation shall mean heterosexuality, homosexuality or bisexuality or being identified with such orientation."

"Transgender shall mean a person who experiences and/or expresses their gender differently form conventional or cultural expectations including, but not limited to those who express a gender that does not match the sex listed on their original birth certificate or who physically alter their sex."

Sec. 17-67. Discrimination prohibited.

"It shall be unlawful for any covered entity to discriminate against any individual because of age, race, color, religion, sex, disability, national origin, sexual orientation, transgender, gender identity or gender expression in any manner involving employment, including the recruitment of applicants for employment, advertising, hiring, layoff, recall, termination of employment, promotion, demotion, transfer, compensation, employment classification, training and selection for training or any other terms, conditions or privileges of employment."

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Dallas Transgender Advocates and Allies, a worldwide organization of Transgender, Transsexual, Gender Gifted. Intersexed, Questioning and allied people advocating for equality in politics, religion and society.

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