Transgender Rights Legislation Impacts All Of Us
Massachusetts’ Transgender Civil Rights Lobby Day demonstrated that our community is organized and deeply committed to securing legal protections for transgender and gender non-conforming people in Massachusetts. On Tuesday, the marble of the State House echoed with our stories about why we need to pass “An Act Relative to Gender-Based Discrimination and Hate Crimes” this year (read more about this legislation and how to get involved).
The transgender rights movement and the work to pass this legislation are deeply personal to me. I have a sibling who is transgender, and I have watched first-hand the hostility and discrimination that he has faced because of his non-conforming gender identity. My sibling is an amazing person and my best friend. He is a fabulous cook, a dedicated activist committed to anti-racist organizing, a generous brother and son, and an exceptionally hard worker. When he is treated badly or discriminated against because of his transgender identity, it is not only an injury to him and to those who love him. It is also an intolerable injustice. I love my home state of Massachusetts, and I know we can do better.
We all need to come together to work hard to pass this legislation this year because this legislation affects all of us and impacts all of our communities. We all have a gender identity, and we all know someone—a relative, classmate, coworker, or neighbor—whose gender identity or expression does not conform to stereotypes of what a man or a woman is “supposed to” look like and act like. Passing this legislation will create legal protections for all of us to live authentically, and it will ensure that all people in Massachusetts have the right to seek employment, participate in public schools, and rent homes without discrimination because of their gender identity or expression.
It is time for Massachusetts to join the 13 other states that already protect against non-discrimination on the basis of gender identity and expression. There is a lot of support for this common sense piece of civil rights legislation. “An Act Relative to Gender-Based Discrimination and Hate Crimes” has the support of the Governor, Attorney General Martha Coakley, 104 representatives and senators (the majority of legislators in the House and Senate and more legislative co-sponsors then any other legislation introduced this session!), and a long and distinguished list of LGBT and civil rights organizations.
Despite this high level of support, we still have a lot of work to do to pass this legislation this year. Your legislators need to hear from YOU that protection from discrimination on the basis of gender identity and expression is important, and that this legislation is about civil rights and basic fairness. Please communicate this message to your Representative and Senator today.