Transgender Rights-Finally a Success

Welcome to the latest state to vote into law equal rights protections for Transgender people. These are not special rights, they are an assertion that these rights enjoyed by the majority through constitutional protections are applied to minorities who have a history of having their rights denied.

Wednesday November 17, 2001, The Massachusetts House and Senate voted to approve then to enact the law known as the “Transgender Rights Bill.”

The bill as passed contains protections for housing, mortgage approvals, credit approvals, employment and education. In addition, this bill extends the provisions of the Massachusetts Hate Crimes Act to include transgender individuals.

Long time human and transgender rights advocate Holly Ryan, of Bay State Stonewall Democrats, the Massachusetts Transgender Political Coalition and a member of the Massachusetts Democratic State Committee was present for the final days of the House and Senate debate and ultimately successful votes.

“We were in the gallery listening to the debate. Some of us would go to speak to House members whose votes were not certain.  It was an exciting and yet overwhelming experience.”

Holly noted that from now on people like her would have protection for themselves and their families and not fear just for being themselves. “We won’t have to worry about losing our livelihood and medical coverage just because someone who  becomes their boss has a religious or personal bias against Transgender people.”

Transgender people include those who have altered their gender as well as those who feel because of their inner emotional state they know that they have the wrong gender body.

One of the provisions of the original submission of the bill was removed when it was voted out of the Joint House-Senate Judiciary Committee. This provision, and its removal, still remain contentious. This was the one that protected transgender people who wish to utilize public sanitary and other facilities of the gender which corresponds  with their gender of choice.  All the 15 other states and DC include the protections for use of public accommodations.  Thus, further efforts are forthcoming to change this new law to contain that provision.

There are many heroes who were involved with the passage of this historic human rights bill. First are the bill’s co-sponsors. In the house they were openly gay Rep of Medford/Somerville Carl Scortino and Boston Representative Byron Rushing. In the senate, Boston Sen. Sonia Chang-Diaz co-sponsored the bill with Benjamin Downing of Western Massachusetts. Gunner Scott, Executive Director of the Massachusetts Transgender Political Coalition lobbied for over six years to get this bill passed by the State House and Senate. In the Swampscott districts both Rep. Lori Ehrlich and State Senator Tom McGee supported and voted for the bill’s passage. Many other state Representatives were involved including openly lesbian Liz Malia and David Linsky. Of course, the outstanding support provided by Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick and his administration needs to be acknowledged as well.

As of this writing the bill signing ceremony has not been scheduled.