Out In The Mountains : News - Repeating Trans 101

       Montpelier – The Vermont legislature got an incomplete for a grade on its efforts toward equality at the end of the first session of the biennium: H.478, the gender identity and expression nondiscrimination bill, remained on the wall of the House Judiciary Committee meeting room. TransAction, an ad hoc coalition of community members and organizations that supports passage of the bill, hopes to change that this year.
       H.478 is the third bill introduced in the last 6 years to add gender identity and expression to the list of protected categories in five areas of state law: employment, public accommodation, banking and credit, housing, and education. Vermont currently includes gender identity and expression only in its hate crimes law.
       Advocates and transgender activists have been frustrated that the bill sat in committee, even though a majority of the committee's members are cosponsors of the bill and despite one hearing, at which transman and Vermont State Employees Association lawyer Jes Kraus testified, along with supporters from R.U.1.2? Queer Community Center and Outright Vermont.
      "Anytime a bill that's important to its supporters doesn't pass, there's bound to be some frustration," Kraus said in an interview. "We don't believe there's been any concerted effort by [House Judiciary Committee Chairman] Bill [Lippert, D-Hinesburg] to put it off or delay it." He said he recognized that Lippert's committee had been hit with an "unexpected" number of "big-ticket items."
       Lippert, in a separate interview, said he was "pleased with the way [H.478 is] moving forward." He said the bill had strong support "generally among advocates and grass-roots folks I'm in touch with."
       Asked whether the rumored introduction of a marriage equality bill might overshadow the gender identity bill, Lippert said, "My most important priority for the lgbt community is the gender identity bill. If a marriage bill is introduced, it won't shift my priority. I am committed to pursing its passage actively and effectively before shifting significant energy to any other issue, including marriage."
        Lippert also noted that "key people" active in advocating marriage equality are also actively supporting the gender identity nondiscrimination bill, H.478.
      Kraus echoed that observation and denied there would be any tension over the introduction of a same-sex marriage bill in the legislature this session. "We are natural allies," he said. "It's the same principles in both bills. No matter whether it's about race, marriage, or gender identity, all the same protections should be in place."
Kraus will likely be among those testifying for the bill, as he did last session. He considers himself lucky – and atypical – in having support at his workplace for his gender change.
       Kraus said that the support of business owners would also carry weight with legislators. He anticipated that any opposition might surface on behalf of business owners and employers, opposition along the lines of "Does this mean guys can come to work in dresses?"
       Kraus said that it will be important for community members to show support for the bill by contacting legislators as soon as testimony is scheduled. "It's particularly important for people outside Chittenden and Washington counties to contact their legislators," he said. "We'd also like to have a show of support on the floor of the House on the day of the first vote."