Sari Lesk

USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin

STEVENS POINT - People who identify as transgender or gender-nonconforming may get new protections in Portage County's when they apply for a local government job.

The county's hiring policy prohibits discrimination based on age, race, religion, disability and marital status and sexual orientation. People who identify as transgender, those whose gender does not conform to the sex they were assigned at birth, are not explicitly protected in the hiring policy. The policy also does not specifically protect people whose behavior or appearance does not conform to social expectations for masculinity or femininity.

But a Portage County resident, Robert Steinke, wants to change that.

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Steinke, a local equal rights advocate, said his parent came out as transgender about five years ago. He requested the county add the two protections to its hiring policy, stating he wants people who are transgender to have a safety net in the county, whether they are already employed or are trying to get hired to a local government job.

The county's policy states it will abide by federal law. The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission determined in 2012 that intentionally discriminating against a transgender individual qualifies as sex discrimination.

"This is to say, 'We're going to be firm on this and it isn't going to allow any leeway,'" Steinke told the county's Human Resources committee this month.

County Executive Patty Dreier said adding this protection to the hiring policy would let people know they are welcome to apply and will be treated fairly.

"Sometimes you need to see yourself among the choices in the series," she said.

Committee Chairman Jim Gifford said county officials will review the request and come back with a proposal.

The city of Stevens Point added similar protections earlier this year.

Sari Lesk: 715-345-2257 or sari.lesk@gannettiwisconsin.com; on Twitter @Sari_Lesk.