S.F. OKs Ban on Bias Against Transsexuals

San Francisco Mayor Frank Jordan signed a city measure into law Friday barring discrimination against transsexuals and transvestites.

Several other cities have similar laws, but San Francisco’s is the toughest in the nation.

It prohibits discrimination based on “gender identity” in employment and housing. Companies breaking the law could be banned from city contracts.

“San Francisco now joins the ranks of Minneapolis, Seattle and Santa Cruz in taking steps to eliminate discrimination based on gender identity,” Jordan said in a statement.

“If discrimination is tolerated against one group, it becomes acceptable against others and devalues the quality of life in any community,” he said.

The measure, sponsored by Supervisor Terrence Hallinan, was unanimously passed by San Francisco’s governing Board of Supervisors on Dec. 19.

The law adds gender identity to race, religion, color, ancestry, age, sex, sexual orientation, disability and place of birth, which are protected from discrimination under city law.

The city law covers about 5,000 San Francisco residents, including transsexuals, regardless of whether they have had sex-change surgery, and transvestites or cross-dressers.