City Councilman Jim Kenney to Announce Major LGBT Equality Legislation

The plan would insure everything from spouse-equivalent treatment in hospitals to a first-of-its-kind "Equality Tax Credit."

Get a compelling long read and must-have lifestyle tips in your inbox every Sunday morning — great with coffee!

Tomorrow, City Councilman Jim Kenney will hold a public hearing to introduce folks to his proposed LGBT Equality legislation. The major plan would insure everything from spouse-equivalent treatment in hospitals and access to LGBT families on city forms to instating a first-of-its-kind “Equality Tax Credit.”

If passed, this would be a major moment for gay rights in Philadelphia. His public hearing is happening tomorrow, April 11, at 3 p.m. in room 400 of City Hall.

A press release I got today lays out everything the plan hopes to accomplish. See the list below:

Create the “Equality Tax Credit” to incentivize employers to deduct the cost of employee health benefits when adding new plans that do not discriminate against LGBT employees and their life partners.

Require the Mayor to report on the state of LGBT equality in Philadelphia, which must identify government services and policies providing unequal treatment to LGBT Philadelphians.

Guarantee spouse-equivalent treatment in hospitals and banning discrimination in medical decision making.

Require accessibility for LGBT families on city forms (ex. “Parent 1” and “Parent 2”).

Add equal treatment for life partners of LGBT city employees and employees of city contractors in pension and retirement benefits (including health and welfare), survivor benefits, and ethics and lobbying rules.

End discriminatory exclusion of health benefits for transgender City employees by Jan. 1, 2014 and allowing employers offering health care to transgender employees to qualify for the “Equality Tax Credit.”

Require all new city construction and major renovation to provide gender-neutral bathrooms.

Require all new city forms and online websites to offer gender neutral “self-identify” option.

Grant all private employees right to adhere to a dress code consistent with their gender identity.

Allow transgender individuals to request name and gender changes throughout their city records.

Follow G Philly on Twitter | Like G Philly on Facebook | Follow G Philly on Instagram

Have gay news you’d like to share with G Philly? Send tips to jmiddleton@phillymag.com.