BY FRANK MAIN
Chicago Sun-Times
April 27th, 2002
Thirty transgender people have been victims of discrimination and hate
crimes in Chicago in the last two years, underscoring the need for the
City Council to pass an ordinance to protect their civil rights, a report
released Friday says.
U.S. Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-Ill.) was among the political leaders at
a news conference pressing for city, county and state human-rights laws
to include transgender people. The New York City Council passed such an
ordinance Wednesday. More than 40 other cities also have laws banning gender
identity-based discrimination.
"I think New York gave us an example that we will quickly emulate in
Chicago," said Clarence Wood, chairman of the Chicago Commission on Human
Rights.
The commission plans to approach Chicago aldermen about amending the
city's human-rights ordinance, Wood said. Cook County Commissioner Mike
Quigley (D-Chicago) said he intends to introduce similar legislation this
year. And state Rep. Larry McKeon (D-Chicago), the General Assembly's only
openly gay legislator, vowed the same.
"Many of my colleagues in Springfield still need to be educated," McKeon
said.
Miranda Stevens-Miller, political director of It's Now Illinois, said
that about 20 Chicago aldermen have expressed support for the amendment,
which would seek protection from discrimination in employment, public accommodations,
credit and housing.
Transgender people include transsexuals and cross-dressers.
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