Transgender advocates urge changes in Indiana legislation

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) – Advocates at the Indiana Statehouse are urging lawmakers to include protections for transgender people to proposed civil rights legislation.

Those gathered at the state Capitol on Monday said the measure preferred by GOP Senate President David Long doesn’t go far enough because it doesn’t include protections for transgender people. The bill would extend civil rights protections to lesbian, gay and bisexual people. The state Senate is expected to take up the measure this week.

Many religious conservatives also oppose the measure. They argue it would curtail religious freedom by requiring Christians to work with gay people.

Long says there will be a vote on the measure this week even if there’s not enough support for the bill to pass.