Some of the recent transgender-related legal and legislative actions and happenings affecting trans people …

* In Florida, Miami-Dade County voters passed a bill of rights …

The bill of rights, which received little attention, contains a clause that bans the city, directly or indirectly, from discriminating based on race, sexual orientation or gender identity and expression. City employees who violate the code could lose their jobs, and other residents could file civil lawsuits.

* Also in Florida, Gainesville City Commissioners voted to pass an anti-discrimination ordinance for transgendered people …

Commissioners voted four to three.

The ordinance is mostly addressing housing and employment discrimination, but the part of the ordinance that created much controversy; allowing transgender people to use whichever restroom they wanted in public settings.

* Again in Florida, mirroring what happened at the Federal level, there are competing versions of a proposed statewide anti-discrimination bill …

Gay political organizations are clashing over the best way to pass GLBT-friendly anti-discrimination bills through the Florida Legislature. The head butting is taking on strategic tones similar to those that emerged last year in the fight over the Employment Non-Discrimination Act in the U.S. Congress.

Gay rights organizations are taking different stances on whether to support a two-pronged effort that sends separate anti-discrimination bills through the Florida House of Representatives and the Florida Senate. If passed, House Bill 47 sponsored by Kelly Skidmore (D-Boca Raton) would ban employment and housing discrimination based on sexual orientation as well as gender identity and gender expression. Senate Bill 572, introduced by Ted Deutch (D-Delray Beach), bans discrimination based on sexual orientation only. Both bills are expected to go before the Florida Legislature during the spring session, which begins March 4.

* In Utah, a statewide GLBT anti-discrimination bill apparently has been put on hold …

A bill prohibiting employers from discriminating against gay, lesbian, bisexual and trans-gendered people hit a wall today. While the bill is still officially active, it is not clear when - or if - it will be re-considered this session. The bill’s sponsor, Representative Christine Johnson, says the bill is intended to protect everyone in Utah from discrimination.

* In Massachusetts, the mayor of Boston is supporting …

… H.B. 1722, which would expand the state’s non-discrimination and hate crimes statutes to include protections based on gender identity and expression. In letters sent to both O’Flaherty and Creedon, Menino notes that he signed similar legislation for the City of Boston in 2002. “All citizens of the Commonwealth deserve equal protection against discrimination,” Menino wrote, “and I hope that you will help spread that message with passage of this legislation.” The bill, filed by state Reps. Carl Sciortino and Byron Rushing, is awaiting action by the judiciary committee.

* Finally, in Maryland, Montgomery County school’s new sex education curriculum withstood a challenge …

A state court judge has ruled in favor of new sex education lessons in Montgomery County middle and high schools, dismissing a legal challenge from religious conservatives who said the county school board violated state law by teaching that sexual orientation is innate.