More Protection For Transsexuals
There are state statutes that prohibit discrimination based on race, religion or sexual orientation. Although the phrase “gender identity or expression” was included in the state’s hate crime laws in 2004, the Connecticut TransAdvocacy Coalition believes discrimination continues to occur, particularly when transsexuals are passed over for jobs or places to live.
“There is no protection under state statues,” said Jerimarie Liesegang, the coalition’s executive director. “It’s not an issue of special rights; it’s an issue of basic human rights.”
The group is now lobbying for a bill that provides additional protection against transsexual and transgender discrimination.
The bill first made its way to the state capitol in 2006 and received a public hearing before being successfully passed through the judiciary committee. In 2007, the bill had more success as it passed the state senate but failed to receive a formal vote from state representatives before the 2007 session closed.
Special Rights
The three-year journey may not have been what advocates had in mind, but the delays have served to further the education and socialization of the issue.
“The two sessions we’ve been through have been favorable because people have been able to socialize with the issue and understand it,” Liesegang said. “It’s given us more of an opportunity to talk to legislators and let them know what’s going on.”
From personal experience, Liesegang has felt the impact of discrimination.
“I have a Ph.D. in chemistry and for a long time, I couldn’t find a job,” Liesegang said.
Transsexuals contend they have been passed over time and again for jobs and housing.
“It’s something that a lot of people don’t understand,” Liesegang said. “There have been more porblmes with transgender and transsexuals being pased over for housing. Don’t all people deserve a place to live?”
But not everyone is on the same page as Liesegang. Opponents believe additional legislative provides special rights and over-reaching protection to transsexuals.
Family Institute of Connecticut executive director Peter Wolfgang said his group opposes the bill because it would tie the hands of boards of educations.
“We have our concerns over very young children being exposed to gender identity confusion,” he said. “Hypothetically, imagine if your child has a second grade teacher Mr. Smith and he comes back a month later after a sex-change operation as Mrs. Smith. The board of education ought to have the right to do something.”
More Education
Despite the opposition, the coalition is hopeful that a bill will be passed in the upcoming session. In 2007, the bill passed the state Senate by a 30 to 4 margin and a preliminary vote in the state House of Representatives registered 111 legislators in favor.
Without a formal lobbyist, Liesegang said the coalition will rely on its members talking personally to their local legislators to push its cause.
“The most important thing we do is tell stories,” Liesegang said. “We have people just explain to the legislators what they’ve been through and what they’ve faced. We found it to be a good way of getting our point across, face to face.”
That push will continue later this month as Feb. 20 has been set aside for Trans Educational Forum and Lobby Day at the state capitol. Between 11 a.m. and 1:30 p.m., the coalition will have a forum at the legislative office building and some of its members will meet with legislators, in addition to rallying.
“We know that there are a lot of other bills out there and other issues,” Liesegang said. “We’re very confident based on how close we got last year and the response we’ve gotten from legislators.”
Sean O’Leary is a Hartford Business Journal staff writer.
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