BLOOMINGTON, Ind. (AP) – An initiative by the city of Bloomington has led to municipal employees in more than 30 Indiana cities and towns gaining access to transgender-inclusive health care benefits.

The (Bloomington) Herald-Times (http://bit.ly/1bU4fa7 ) reports Bloomington employees didn't previously have such benefits in insurance plans provided by the Indiana Association of Cities and Towns Medical Trust.

Bloomington human resources director Doris Sims proposed in June 2014 that the trust include insurance plans that cover gender dysphoria treatment. Such plans went into effect this year, with covered treatments including hormone replacement and surgeries.

The personnel manual for the city of Bloomington was recently updated to add transgender people as a protected class under its nondiscrimination policy. Mayor Mark Kruzan says it's a “matter of respect'' and “inclusiveness.''