Philly mayor signing broad LGBT rights legislation

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — The mayor of Philadelphia will be signing legislation that's touted as the nation's most comprehensive equal-rights protection for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people.

Mayor Michael Nutter is signing the measure at a ceremony Thursday.

City officials and gay rights advocates say it makes Philadelphia the first major city in the U.S. to offer tax credits to companies that extend the same health care coverage to LGBT employees' life partners and their children as they already provide to heterosexual spouses and their children.

Councilman James Kenney sponsored the bill. He says it also makes Philadelphia the first big city to give businesses tax credits for offering transgender-specific health benefits.

Among other things, the measure also requires gender-neutral bathrooms in city-owned buildings and revises Philadelphia's anti-discrimination law to include transgender people.

Copyright 2013 The Associated Press.