Miami Herald, FL, USA


BROWARD COUNTY

Broward OK's transgender rights

Broward County has made it illegal to discriminate against its
transgender residents, and supporters hope the silence from opponents
on Tuesday means they don't plan to fight the change.

Posted on Wed, Feb. 13, 2008

BY BREANNE GILPATRICK
bgilpatrick@...


[PHOTO:
<http://media.miamiherald.com/smedia/2008/02/13/01/73-listen.embedded.prod_affil\
iate.56.jpg>
Broward County Mayor Lois Wexler and Commissioner Josephus Eggelletion
listen as Jacqui Charvet speaks Tuesday. CANDACE WEST / MIAMI HERALD
STAFF]


One woman shares her story about being too afraid to tell police about
the two men who beat her for being transgender.

Another holds up a photo of her 7-year-old daughter and wonders what's
going to happen when her classmates find out she started life as a
boy.

One by one, more than 20 people shared their stories and persuaded the
Broward County Commission to add ''gender identity'' and pregnancy to
a list of protected classes, a civil rights milestone for the group
that makes it illegal to deny housing or jobs to transgender or
pregnant residents.

Tuesday's unanimous vote adds Broward County to a growing list of
local governments nationwide that provide some civil rights
protections to transgender residents.

In other counties and cities, critics have fought to prevent and
repeal those changes, saying they're unnecessary and arguing it's
wrong for people to try to redefine gender.

But at Tuesday's meeting, no opponents were heard. And supporters say
they hope their silence means they don't plan to fight the decision in
Broward.

''Either they're no longer watching us,'' Broward Vice Mayor Stacy
Ritter said, ``or some of those nasty, name-calling, finger-pointing
disrespectful people thought it wasn't worth it to attack us on this
one.''

UGLY BATTLE

More than a decade ago, attempts to include sexual orientation in the
county's anti-discrimination laws kicked off an ugly political battle
in Broward.

The vote to ban discrimination against gays and lesbians came after a
five-hour debate in 1995, with some critics warning of divine
retribution and vowing to unseat elected officials who voted for the
measure. The decision launched several unsuccessful repeals.

This time around, supporters tried to move quietly in their quest to
expand rights for the gay and transgender community throughout South
Florida.

In Miami-Dade, for example, an anti-discrimination measure passed
overwhelmingly Jan. 29.

But there have been opponents.

Miami-Dade's Christian Family Coalition, for instance, accused
supporters of the Miami-Dade measure of ''sneaking'' the referendum
onto the ballot. And in a written statement before before Tuesday's
vote, the group accused the Broward County Commission of ``putting
political extremism over what science and humanity have known for
millennia.''

NO CHALLENGE

Still, no one appeared before the Broward Commission on Tuesday to
announce a challenge to the newly adopted ordinance.

Supporters of the amendment passed Tuesday have said they doubt
opponents have the time to get a repeal on the ballot before 2010 --
and that they hope that in the interim, critics find another issue to
fight.

''I am proud of this county,'' said Tobias Packer, who transitioned to
life as a man about five years ago and now serves as the co-founder of
the Transgender Equality Rights Initiative. ``This sends a real
message to every resident that discrimination against any person, on
any level, is not tolerated.''


http://www.miamiherald.com/news/broward/story/417091.html