Athens Online reports on a bill that seems to include gender identity protection for public employees, though the article is unclear. "Gay and lesbian or pregnant Athens-Clarke County employees soon could earn specific protection under the local government's anti-discrimination policy, just weeks after the University of Georgia added sexual orientation to its list of protected traits. . . . The updated ordinance, as [Mayor] Davison proposes, also would include sexual orientation, sexual identity and pregnancy, an addition recommended by Commissioner Elton Dodson, whose law practice specializes in employment complaints."
The reference to sexual identity is unclear, as the usual legal referent for protection of transgender persons is "gender identity." However, the term "sexual identity" has been used in a similar capacity in the past. In addition, the article contains a reference to gender identity later on:
"Banning discrimination against public employees on the basis of sexual orientation, gender identity, or pregnancy will bolster the principles of equality, justice and freedom that Athens citizens expect their government to uphold," Davison wrote to commissioners. "It is, quite simply, the right thing to do."
Atlanta and DeKalb County already have gender identity protections in place.
