Mayor Jeff Clemens and Commissioner Cara Jennings proposed that the city revise its Civil Rights Act at the request of the Palm Beach County Human Rights Council.

"Lake Worth should always be on the cutting edge when it comes to fighting discrimination," Clemens said. "This is just a step that will ensure that people are treated fairly regardless of their gender identity."

The unanimous decision to include the newest protection clauses shows that gender identity discrimination does occur and that cities are responsible for enacting laws to prevent it, Jennings said.

Lake Worth joins West Palm Beach and Tequesta in the initiative, which was spurred locally after the February firing of Largo City Manager Steve Stanton, who had announced his plans for a sex change operation, said Rand Hoch, founder and president of the local Human Rights Council.

"We wanted to make sure someone didn't have to go through that again," Hoch said.

Hoch sent a letter to the county commission Thursday requesting a revision to the Equal Employment Ordinance and Fair Housing Ordinance to prohibit discrimination based on gender identity or expression.

Similar talks are under way in Palm Beach Gardens and Palm Beach, Hoch said.

As a labor attorney, Hoch frequently assists with the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community who deal with workplace discrimination.

But it wasn't until the Largo firing made national news that the difficulties experienced by the transgender community came to light, he said.

"Because of that (Stanton firing), it's starting to get some attention, and people are looking at policies in different cities and seeing if they have protection for that," said Heather Wright, the facilitator of a gender support group at Compass Inc., a community center for gays and lesbians.

Wright, who once lived her life as a man, said she hopes others can have the same positive transition she did.

"This is an opportunity for them to put in a law that will allow them to have the same chance that I had when I came out, and not be in fear of losing their job," she said.

For Lake Worth, the Civil Rights Act revision and the addition of Compass Inc. to the former Mid-County Senior Center building has contributed to the city's progressive movement, Wright said.