Celebrating LGBT+ victories in the U.S.

Given the current political climate and the highly anticipated decision of the Cake Case, there are victories for the LGBT+ community to celebrate.

Paducah, Ky. has become the ninth city to adopt an anti-discrimination ordinance that protects the rights of gay, lesbian and transgender residents.

News outlets report the Paducah City Commission voted 4-1 Tuesday to repeal and replace the code governing the operations of the Paducah Human Rights Commission.

Kentucky LGBT pride. File photo.

The measure expands discrimination protection categories to include age, sexual orientation and gender identification, and prohibits discrimination in employment, housing, and public accommodations.

Opponents of the ordinance expressed concern that it would interfere with citizens' exercise of religious beliefs. The lone dissenting commissioner, Richard Abraham, attempted to add an amendment granting business owners exceptions on a religious basis, but that failed. The ordinance does exempt religious charities and organizations.

The ordinance's proponents say it promotes fairness and would be good for attracting business.

Strides are also being made further northeast.

Crystal Pretzman of Willimantic Conn. Shana Sureck.

Stamford, Connecticut's legislative body has removed gender pronouns from its written rules.

The Advocate reports that Stamford's Board of Representatives voted last week to remove "he/she" and "his/her" from its rules of order. It is replacing them with specific titles, including president and clerk.

The change was proposed by three Democrats elected to the 40-member board in November, including Raven Matherne, the state's first openly transgender elected official.

The measure passed unanimously with one abstention.

Matherne says the move does not change the way the rules are followed but is "an act to acknowledge the members of this board, just as in each of our districts and the city at large, cannot always be described as he or she."

Stamford is the state's third most populous city without about 130,000 residents.

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The Gayly 1/10/2010 @ 10:26 a.m. CST