The city of Chicago would add protections for gender identity under its anti-hate crime ordinance, alongside race, sexual orientation, religion and military status as part of a plan aldermen advanced on Friday.
The measure, introduced by Aldermen Raymond Lopez, 15th, and Edward Burke, 14th, cleared the Public Safety Committee. It still needs to come for a vote before the full City Council, which is expected next week.
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Initially, the proposal also would have added immigration status as a protected class, but Lopez said that provision was removed because it’s already covered under the ordinance.
Speaking on the importance of adding gender identity protections, Lopez previously said it’s “time that we take real steps to protect the transgender community. Outrage on Twitter is not enough.”
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