Letter: History Made with Passing of Transgender Bill

To the Editor:

History was made this week when the House of Representatives and the State Senate passed the Transgender Equal Rights Bill. On Monday the House took up the bill and passed it 95-58.

The Senate passed the bill on Tuesday with a voice vote. The bill will protect more the more then 33,000 self-identified Transgender state residents from discrimination based on their gender identity in employment, housing and education. 

“For the first time, transgender residents will be included in our state's statutes, prohibiting the unfair and unjust discrimination they have faced for far too long,” said Kara Suffredini, executive director of MassEquality in a statement on its website. “We're pleased that the legislature waited not a moment longer to advance these urgently needed protections, and we applaud the Massachusetts Transgender Political Coalition for their leadership in securing this important victory.”

MassEquality is the largest LGBT (Lesbian Gay Bi-sexual Transgender) political advocacy organization in the state which fights for full equality for LGBT persons from cradle to grave. 

The bill passed despite support from Attleboro's local State Reps. George T. Ross (R-Attleboro) and Betty Poirier (R-North Attleboro, who represents Ward 3B in Attleboro.) 

"I was glad to see the bathroom provision removed from the bill," said State Rep. George T. Ross in the Sun Chronicle. 

But he voted against it because he believes it will put a burden on small businesses and subjects them to lawsuits.

Ross' comments on the bill are a clear lack of understanding of Transgender people, and the rights they should be entitled to under the law. The right to employment and not to be fired for being different, the right to get a place to live.

"With the Economy and jobs being one of the biggest issue among voters it's appreciated that the legislature would pass a bill which protects the Transgender Community from being fired because of their gender identity," said Alex Morash a Boston Public Policy Examiner and former member of the Governor's commission on LGBT youth. 

A few hours after the Senate held it's voice vote the chief co-sponsor of the Bill State Rep. Carl Sciortino posted on his Facebook page and said "[I am] Proud to be a member of the House after today's final passage of the Transgender Equal Rights Bill, which is now headed to the Governor's desk.

Many thanks to the many wonderful advocates and community members for your advocacy and patience the past five years, it's been my honor to work with you all!."
A number of organizations have been working for more than 5 years to pass this bill and it has finally come to pass. BSSD Co-chair, Claire B. Naughton of Foxborough,  said "The Bay State Stonewall Democrats have worked very hard with other LGBT organizations and the Mass. Transgender Political Coalition, since the beginning,  to get this Bill passed. It is an important step forward for civil rights in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts."

Now that the House and Senate have enacted the Bill it awaits the signature of Governor Deval Patrick who has been an outspoken stalwart on this Bill. Patrick who has an openly gay daughter Katherine, is a strong supporter of LGBT rights and issues and is notably the most pro-gay rights governor in the nation. Patrick has said once the bill hits his desk that he will sign it. 

Joe Lazzerini

Attleboro, MA