Northern Indiana Mayor Issues Order On Gender Identity

GOSHEN, Ind. (AP) — A northern Indiana mayor has issued an executive order adding gender identity to the city's anti-discrimination hiring ordinance.

The Elkhart Truth reports Goshen Mayor Allan Kauffman issued the order adding protections for transgender people during a Goshen Board of Works meeting Monday afternoon.

Kauffman announced in August he would issue the executive order after council members in the city about 25 miles southeast of South Bend agreed not to vote on the ordinance after opponents campaigned against it.

The city's discrimination and harassment policy, which has been in effect since 1998, already has protections for employees or potential employees based on sexual orientation.

Kauffman, a Democrat who served four terms as mayor, is in his final month as mayor. He did not run for re-election.