Puerto Rico legislators to consider anti-discrimination bill

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – Puerto Rico's legislature is expected to approve a long sought-after bill that would make it a crime to discriminate against people based on their gender or sexual orientation.

The bill was submitted Tuesday by Senator Ramon Luis Nieves of the Popular Democratic Party, which gained control of the Senate and House of Representatives in November's general election.

The bill aims to protect people in the U.S. territory from being discriminated at work, in public places, and during transactions including renting or selling property.

A similar proposal was approved by the House of Representatives in recent years but later rejected by the Senate, which at the time was controlled by the pro-statehood New Progressive Party.

Legislators are expected to debate the bill in upcoming weeks.