ORLANDO, FL—The Orlando City Council has taken under consideration a new ordinance that would formally ban discrimination of all transgender individuals. If passed, the ordinance would add those who identify as transgender from being denied jobs or promotions, renting apartment, homes and condos, or being refused service in bars, restaurants, nightclubs or hotels by Orlando business owners.

The city is already well-know for its position protecting gays against discrimination. When the city passed is gay anti-discrimination ordinance, it was a contentious issue that attracted nationwide attention. Twelve years ago, when the ordinance first passed, the issue resulted in a five-hour-long pre-vote meeting with some critics suggesting that gays were pedophiles and spread disease.

Responding to questions by the Orlando Sentinel, Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer said that it was appropriate that the city try to continue to promote diversity, fairness and equality. “The cities that are going to be successful are the ones that are able to attract the young, smart entrepreneurs, the people who do startup companies and high-tech. And they want to live in socially progressive cities,” Dyer said.

The City Council is expected to discuss the ordinance on July 28 at the first of two public hearings.