Transgendered Rights

A bill to grant basic civil rights to transgendered people in Massachusetts has languished on Beacon Hill for years. The merits of the bill are clear: under current law, nothing legally prevents businesses or property owner from discriminating against people purely on the basis of their gender identification. The pending legislation would extend basic public-accommodations and housing protections that already cover race, gender, religion disability and sexual orientation.

The bill has the backing of nearly 70 rank and file members of the legislature including both Rep. Ehrlich and Senator McGee who represent our fair town. Governor Patrick has expressed his support as has Speaker DeLeo.

Fifteen other states, including Rhode Island, Connecticut, Vermont and Maine, as well as the District of Columbia have already passed similar legislation. Nearly 100 Bay State businesses have transgendered rights written into their human services policy. More than 130 Massachusetts clergymen have signed a faith declaration favoring the bill.

According to a study conducted by the UCLA School of Law’s Williams Institute, 33,000 Massachusetts residents identify themselves as transgendered. The study found that 76% of them experienced harassment, mistreatment or discrimination in employment.

The obvious merits of the bill would seem to make its passage a sure thing. However, Rep. Eugene O’Flaherty, House Chair of the Judiciary Committee won’t let the bill out of Committee and has kept it hostage for years. Such is the power of one man who can single handily deny basic civil rights to 33,000 Massachusetts citizens.