The places where Philadelphia city departments can't travel due to controversial laws that limit anti-discrimination protections for lesbian, gay and transgender people have extended to include three southern states and a southern city.
Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney announced late Monday a ban on all publicly funded and non-essential travel for city employees to Mississippi, North Carolina, Tennessee and the city of Oxford, Alabama.
The travel ban is in response to recent laws viewed as anti-LGBT.
"I am announcing this ban in response to the enactment of legislation that infringes the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender individuals in these jurisdictions," said Kenney. "I will reconsider this ban if the States of North Carolina, Mississippi, Tennessee and the city of Oxford, Alabama choose to repeal their discriminatory legislation."
Last month, Kenney announced the North Carolina and Mississippi bans, Monday he extended it to the other jurisdictions.
The North Carolina law directs transgender people to use public toilets corresponding to the sex listed on their birth certificate. The law also excludes LGBT people from state anti-discrimination protections, blocks local governments from expanding LGBT protections, and bars all types of workplace discrimination lawsuits from state courts. In Mississippi, legislation taking effect this summer will allow certain workers, including some in private businesses, to cite religious beliefs in denying services to gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people.
Tennessee recently passed legislation that allows mental health counselors to refuse treatment based on religious or personal beliefs. Opponents say the measure allows discrimination against LGBT individuals.
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And, transgender people in Oxford could face jail time for using a restroom that doesn't correspond with their biological sex, reported CNN.com.
