Gender Confusion in The Golden State- AB 887 to the rescue

I'm frightened ....a little. First,  Some statistics on transgender employment : % 67 of trangenders reported , in a survey given in California, that they experienced some form of  workplace discrimination. Thats a very large percentage.It's the kind of percentage that keeps you up at night; Especially if you are contemplating your entrance into the work force.
 
 I'm only frightened a little though; Here in the Golden State , I cannot be discriminated against because of the gender I perceive my self as (gender identity),  nor for presenting myself as that gender.(gender expression). "Well", you may say "If you are so protected in California, why is the amount of workplace discrimination so high? The answer will surprise you as much as it surprised me.

I became a wild eyed , obsessed woman  when I began to contemplate this paradox. Why were so many transgenders experiencing such high rates of  workplace discrimination in a state that is one of the few to have  non-discrimination laws that prohibits discrimination based on gender identity and gender expression ? Again and again I asked myself this question as I searched the Almighty Google . Then I found this  and the answer became clear.

California's non-discrimination laws are too vague!. There isn't any clarity on the protected classes of gender expression and gender identity, nor is the language explicit enough in describing the inclusion of gender identity and gender expression in the class  of gender. So how is an employer going to properly police the workplace or conform their policies to law without a coherent understanding of the law?

 So now the state of California is considering AB 887 to remedy this confusion. If passed this law would enumerate in all non-discrimination laws in California the protected classes of gender expression and identity.The bill would also explicitly declare that gender expression and identity are included in the class of gender. With this clarification , employers will be able to conform to workplace non-discrimination laws with ease and that scary , large percentage would go away.

 I am still frightened a little but I  have hope for the passage of AB 887. I have hope for a time when California's  extensive protections for Gender will finally have potency.