Are there laws that clearly prohibit discrimination against transgender people?
Yes. California, Colorado, Hawaii, Illinois, Iowa, Maine, Minnesota, New Jersey, New Mexico, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington and the District of Columbia all have such laws. Their protections vary. Minnesota’s law bans discrimination in employment, housing, education and public accommodations; Hawaii’s covers only housing. At least 108 cities and counties have passed their own laws prohibiting gender identity discrimination including Atlanta, Buffalo, Cincinnati, Dallas, El Paso, Indianapolis, Kansas City, Louisville, Nashville, New Orleans, and Pittsburgh. Visit the “Legislation: Non- Discrimination Laws” section at www.transgenderlaw.org for a list of “U.S. jurisdictions with laws prohibiting discrimination on the basis of gender identity or gender expression.” The governors of some states (e.g., Kansas, Michigan) have banned discrimination against transgender state workers through executive orders. Unless an executive order is expressly limited in duration or is rescinded,
