Goldman Sachs has joined the growing list of financial firms to include gender-reassignment surgery as part of its medical benefits. Both Goldman and Bank of America reportedly will pay for the actual surgery, while other financial companies, such as Wachovia, consider the procedure to be elective, but will reimburse for drugs and other related expenses.

Read the entire article here.

Labels: corporate, transgender

Reports started coming in yesterday that the Federal Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) was in jeopardy. The issue? Trans inclusive language in the bill.

From the Bay Area Reporter:

The federal trans-inclusive Employment Non-Discrimination Act that has been a centerpiece of LGBT legislation for the Human Rights Campaign and other gay rights groups appeared headed for collapse in the House of Representatives Thursday, September 27 with a plan by gay Congressman Barney Frank to introduce two versions of the bill – one addressing sexual orientation and one addressing gender identity.

This has had some pretty serious consequences. A letter went out to openly gay U.S. Rep. Frank and others stating that most of the nation's GLBT rights organizations would not support ENDA without trans inclusive language.

This issue? HRC refused to sign onto the letter and I am still not sure why they made that decision, which by all accounts is a very poor decision.

Matt Foreman, executive director of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, told the Bay Area Reporter Thursday afternoon that his organization was told of Frank's plan earlier in the day.

"We will oppose a non-inclusive bill," Foreman said.

[...]

"One thing we know is there are inevitable jitters at the end when it comes close to passing LGBT bills, and the answer is to go talk to members and move forward," Foreman said. "There were similar jitters with the hate crime bill and it passed."

The trans-inclusive hate crime bill passed the House in May; it passed in the Senate Thursday.

"In the last five years, gender identity has been added in state legislation and did not derail it," Foreman added. "We think they should take a step back and solidify support, not go forward with a strategy that leaves part of our community behind."

Labels: anti-discrimination, ENDA, federal, transgender

In what has thankfully become national headlines, Largo, Florida should be thoroughly ashamed of itself for firing long time City Manager Steve Stanton.

Steve Stanton has worked for as a public servant for over 14 years. He has served his community so well that just recently he was given huge praise for his work and a sizable raise for his outstanding work. So why was he fired?

Steve Stanton was fired by the Largo City Council because he was forced to announce that he was transgender and planning on transitioning to a female, the gender of which he was not physically born into, but that he was mentally born into. Not familiar with transgender issues? Go read up on the subject on Wikipedia. (Transgender, Gender Dysphoria)

Stanton served. Served with a great passion for his community. Served so well, that as we stated below was recently just given a very respectable raise in salary. He was and still is view by many as an exemplary employee of the city. But late last night after hours of testimony, Stanton's appeal to his termination was upheld, 5-2.

The Commission's decision to terminate is a stunning demonstration of bias and intolerance. By choosing discrimination over inclusiveness, the City Commissioners failed Stanton and failed their city.

Largo directly violated THEIR OWN non-discrimination policy as well as state and federal laws.

Steve Stanton, we stand behind you. We applaud your bold and courageous stand against blatant discrimination.

Shame on you Largo, Florida, shame on you.

Labels: anti gay, discrimination, florida, steve stanton, transgender