Above are the original changes that were proposed to DART’s nondiscrimination policy back in May. The screen grab is taken directly from a slideshow presented by Kriss Ann Gamez, DART’s director of diversity and EEO. Gamez presented the slideshow on May 11 to the DART board’s Economic Opportunity and Diversity Committee, which uanimously approved the proposed changes. After the jump, I’ve reposted the proposed policy that was approved this week by the DART Board’s committee-of-the-whole. While only one word has been added to the sentence in question, the trans protections — as well as those that have been in place for sexual orientation since 1995 — have effectively been gutted. More on all this in Friday’s Voice.
Why do they need a non-discrimination policy at all? This thing basically says, “we will only discriminate as permitted by law.” What a farce. I think its even a step backwards for women’s protection on the basis of sex, as that is not absolute under the law. If you are unlucky enough to live in one the Federal Districts that does not follow the Price Waterhouse line of cases prohibiting discrimination on the basis of failure to adhere to gender stereotypes (and the 5th circuit has a discouraging record there), then women do not have full protection under Title VII. Women need to realize that there freedom form discrimination is closely linked to that of gays and the transgendered, and throw their weight beihind protesting this stripping of protections for women and others who need freedom from gender stereotypes.