Late changes in a proposed nondiscrimination ordinance to protect gay, lesbian and transgender Chattanooga employees have gained a new supporter.
The term "gender expression" appears to have been removed from the proposed ordinance, which is co-sponsored by Councilmen Chris Anderson and Moses Freeman.
And a definition of "gender identity" has been added to the proposed ordinance.
Under the new draft, which was posted on the city's agenda late Friday, gender identity "means the actual or perceived gender-related identity, appearance, or mannerisms, or other gender-related characteristics of an individual, with or without regard to the individual's sex at birth."
Councilman Larry Grohn and Chip Henderson were concerned passage of the ordinance would allow transgender employees to use restrooms opposite of their birth sex.
Grohn said he would vote for the revised ordinance and he was "pleased that there was some compromise made on it."
"My main concern was that we were granting the freedom of expression for one group, yet in other parts of the code we limited expression for other groups," he said. "With the changes being made, I'm happy with the ordinance and I'll vote for it."