Transgender Rights on the Local Level

categories: Employment NonDiscrimination Act, HIV/AIDS, LGBT Rights and Politics, Transgender Issues

Published August 14, 2009 @ 11:23AM PT

History has been made in West Hollywood, with the city voting to create the first ever municipal advisory body focusing on the rights of transgender people. The goal? To provide a resource for the city to deal with the unique political issues - from discrimination to public health to housing equality - faced by transgender people in the city.

Bold step. Refreshing vision. Smart political decision. Yup, those are just a few adjectives to describe this move. Here's what West Hollywood City Council member Jeffrey Prang had to say about the city's decision to create the Advisory Board.

As one of the nation’s leaders, focused on fighting discrimination of any kind, the City of West Hollywood recognizes the issues and concerns facing our transgender community.

We created the first Transgender Task Force to provide valuable insight to our City’s leaders and our community. In formalizing our Transgender Task Force into a permanent board in our government structure, we are leading what I hope will be a national model advocating for the rights of transgender Americans.

As mentioned, the Advisory Board will deal with a range of issues facing transgender folks in West Hollywood. Primary concerns will be increasing employment opportunities in the transgender community; HIV/AIDS prevention; housing equality and community education of City resources available to the transgender community.

Now that sounds like a national model that other cities should eagerly get behind.

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Comments (2)

West Hollywood has done the correct thing by having created an Advisory Board with a focus on the challenge which Transgender people face. There's discrimination against LGBT people, which is unfortunate, but by focusing on Transgender people, the issues of that group will be dealt in a correct way. More cities must correct an Advisory Board in order to help a group of people which has and is being discriminated in the world and this country.

Posted by Edwin Bonilla on 08/14/2009 @ 11:33AM PT
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Yaay, WeHo!

Posted by Gail Wise on 08/15/2009 @ 12:22PM PT
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Michael is the Communications Director for the Human Rights Program at Harvard Law School, and previously was Communications Director for Pax Christi USA, a progressive Catholic human rights organization.