Puerto Rico Governor Alejandro Garcia Expands Gay Rights

Puerto Rico Governor Alejandro Garcia Padilla signed a measure into law that criminalizes employer discrimination based on gender or sexual orientation. Later, the Governor posted on twitter explaining his support, stating that "the dignity of being a human being is inviolable because we are all the same and we must be equal under the law."

An original, stronger version of the bill would have also banned discrimination in commercial transactions, property rentals, public transportation and other circumstances. Those clauses were removed after heavy opposition by religious groups---according to The Associated Press.

Francisco Dueñas, Coordinator of Proyecto Igualdad---a gay rights group in the region---released the following written statement in a press release:

"This is a big step forward for the LGBT community in Puerto Rico. Puerto Rico joins 21 other jurisdictions in the United States that expressly ban discrimination in employment on the basis of sexual orientation and 15 that also cover gender identity," Dueñas said. 

"These laws will provide recourse to LGBT Puerto Ricans facing discrimination at work and relief for victims of domestic violence. This is an historic turning point and we will continue to advocate for comprehensive nondiscrimination protections that include protections against discrimination in housing, public accommodations, governmental services and private entities."

Though internationally considered a Carribean nation with a national identity distinct from the United States, Puerto Rico is an unincorporated territory of the U.S. In a 2012 non-binding referendum, 54 percent of Puerto Rican voters rejected their current designation; in a second question, 61 percent of Puerto Ricans voted in favor of statehood. U.S. Representative Pedro Pierluisi introduced "The Puerto Rico Status Resolution Act of 2013 (H.R. 2000)" May 15 to begin the process of making Puerto Rico the 51st State.

Meanwhile, the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA), a federal bill that functions similarly to the gay rights legislation that Puerto Rico just passed, remains stalled in the U.S. Congress.