FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) -- Broward County is the latest local government to provide civil rights protections to transgender residents.

County commissioners voted unanimously yesterday to add "gender identity" and pregnancy to a list of protected classes in Broward's anti-discrimination laws. That means it's now illegal to deny housing or jobs to transgender or pregnant residents. They are also protected from discrimination in public venues such as hospitals or restaurants.

Miami-Dade County officials passed a similar measure last month.

Critics say those protections are unnecessary and argue that it's wrong for people to try to redefine gender.