Puerto Rico Governor Signs Local ENDA, Domestic Violence Bills

Puerto Rico's Democratic governor, Alejandro Garcia Padilla, today formally signed into law a bill that protects LGBT Puerto Ricans from discrimination in employment, reports the Associated Press. Padilla also signed a law that extends domestic violence protections and services to gay and lesbian couples.

Earlier drafts of the antidiscrimination bill, passed by both the House and Senate this month, included discrimination protections in housing, governmental services, public accommodations, and private entities. But those provisions were stripped from the bill after heavy lobbying by religious groups, according to the AP.

Padilla's signature on the domestic violence expansion follows the lead of San Juan mayor Carmen Yulin Cruz, who earlier this month issued a mandate requiring the capital city's police department to provide equal protection and access to such support services to all citizens, regardless of gender identity or sexual orientation.

Padilla campaigned on a platform that included LGBT equality, and indicated early in the legislative process that he would sign the antidiscrimination bill.