cityXtra Magazine

Orlando Adds Transgender Protection to HRO Unanimously  

By David William Vandygriff 

The amendment to add Gender Identity and Expression to the City of Orlando's Human Rights Ordinance passed unanimously on its second reading; it will now become law.

The ordinance — Chapter 57 — was approved, was amended to include protections for Orlando’s transgender community and protect against discrimination in employment, housing and public accommodations.  


The fight to add this protection for transgender citizens has been ongoing for years. In 2001, Orlando was one of the first cities to add sexual orientation protections to its human rights ordinance, but it did not approve the transgender revisions.

“By passing this protection you are truly saving lives,” said Gina Duncan, transgender inclusion director with Equality Florida. “Within the transgender community, there will be one more person who will not lose their livelihood; there will be one more person who will not lose their ability to provide for their families and who will not decide to take their own live.”