Philadelphia health plan to soon cover 'gender confirmation surgery'

In a move that the LGBT community called "historic," City Council approved a bill yesterday that would require the city's health plan to pay for transgender city workers to complete "gender-confirmation surgery." The bill also would require newly constructed or renovated city-owned buildings to have gender-neutral bathrooms. "We're continuing on the American road to full equality and civil rights for all of our citizens," said Councilman Jim Kenney, who sponsored the bill at the request of the LGBT community. The bill passed 14-3, with nay votes from Councilmen Bill Green, David Oh and Brian O'Neill. Mayor Nutter will sign off on the measure, said spokesman Mark McDonald.