Mayor Nutter to Sign Philly’s LGBT Equality Bill Today

This afternoon, Mayor Nutter and Councilman Jim Kenney will meet up in the Municipal Building to sign into law Bill #130224, more commonly known as the LGBT Equality Bill that will make Philadelphia the rainbow-iest city in the United States — especially when it comes to rights for the trans community.

In case you need a refresher, here’s a list of the ground-breaking protections the bill will offer Philly’s LGBTQ communitiy:

• Overhaul the Philadelphia Code to provide for equality of treatment of all persons in the City of Philadelphia regardless of gender identity or sexual orientation.
• First in U.S. “Life Partner and Transgender Health Tax Credits” to encourage all willing employers to choose LGBT-inclusive employee healthcare options.
• Guarantee spouse-equivalent treatment in hospitals & bans discrimination in medical decision making.
• Authorize accessibility for LGBT families on all City forms (ex. “Parent 1” and “Parent 2”).
• Cement protections for LGBT City employees and employees of City contractors with Life Partners including:

• Pension and retirement benefits (including health and welfare); and
• Survivor & ”Fallen Hero” death benefits (and others).

• Ends exclusion of health benefits for non-union transgender City employees by Jan. 1, 2014
• Require all new City construction to offer a single-use, gender-neutral bathroom option.
• Require all new City forms & websites to offer LGBT-friendly options (ex. “Parent 1/Mother” and gender neutral “self-identify” option.
• Provide employees protections to observe appropriate workplace dress code consistent with their gender identity.
• Allow transgender individuals to request name and gender changes throughout their City records.
• Authorize report on the state of LGBT equality in Philadelphia within one year.

The mayor and Councilman Kenney are inviting folks to attend the signing, which will take place at 3 p.m. this afternoon at the Municipal Services Building at 15th Street and JFK Boulevard. If you can’t make it, be sure to follow G Philly on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram for updates and a play-by-play of the goings on.