PORTSMOUTH — The city could soon lead the state in enacting a non-discrimination policy for transgender individuals.

PORTSMOUTH — The city could soon lead the state in enacting a non-discrimination policy for transgender individuals.



Assistant Mayor Jim Splaine this past week asked city officials to get behind a resolution he is proposing to enact a "Portsmouth Non-discrimination Policy."



The proposal, which Splaine first floated in front of the City Council on Feb. 3, would create a non-discrimination policy for transgender municipal employees, as well as encourage statewide protections for transgender individuals.



Having led the legislative effort that legalized gay marriage in New Hampshire in 2009, Splaine said the state has yet to pass anything relative to right of transgender individuals.



Splaine said he thinks the city now has the opportunity to set the example for the Granite State.



"I've been concerned for quite some years that we need to make sure the city of the open door is indeed as open as we can be," he said. "I want to encourage openness at the state level, openness and acceptance of all our citizens."



Janson Wu, staff attorney for Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders, said the issue of implementing anti-discrimination policies for transgender individuals is something communities throughout the country are doing these days.



"Close to 200 municipalities have adopted anti-discrimination protections for transgender individuals," Wu said. "These types of protections are really in the mainstream of anti-discrimination protections for people."



Wu said it is GLAD's position that Splaine's proposal should be implemented.



"(Splaine's) proposal is absolutely necessary to protect some of the more vulnerable people in our community," he said.



But while Portsmouth appears to be prepared to tackle the issue, Wu said the state appears far behind.



Currently, Wu said, there are only 17 states in the country that have anti-discrimination policies for transgender individuals. New Hampshire also happens to be the only state in the New England region without similar protections.



"New Hampshire lags behind the rest of New England in protecting its transgender residents, not just in employment discrimination, but also in public accommodations," he said.



Even the federal government is ahead of the game, according to Wu.



"The federal government has also issued an executive order protecting transgender federal employees.



Wu said there is no pending legislation at the New Hampshire Statehouse either.



Splaine said the state Legislature once had a bill encouraging protections for transgender nondiscrimination, but that effort was put on the back burner because the subject of same-sex marriage had risen to the forefront instead.



"No action has been taken since," he said.



Splaine said he's hopeful the state will see what Portsmouth is doing and consider following suit in the near future.



"I think we can make some important leadership strides," he said.