Video Highlights Need for Inclusive Non-Discrimination and Hate Crimes Laws
Everyone Matters: Dignity and Safety for Transgender People
Download this press release as a PDF
First of its kind video to be shown at lobby day for An Act Relative to Gender Based Discrimination and Hate Crimes, April 7
Alishia is a firefighter. Enoch is a university professor. Dana is a software engineer. Jesse is an HIV prevention educator. Each makes invaluable contributions in the work place and in the community. And each faces the threat of losing a job, being denied housing or health care, and suffering violence and harassment – simply for being transgender.
In Everyone Matters: Dignity and Safety for Transgender People - a new video produced by Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders(GLAD)’s Transgender Rights Project, Massachusetts Transgender Political Coalition (MTPC), and MassEquality - Alishia, Enoch, Dana, and Jesse talk about their jobs, their family, their hopes, and their worries. Framed by hope and optimism, their stories nevertheless show how vulnerable transgender people still are, and highlight the need for comprehensive laws to ensure that people can obtain and retain employment, remain safe on the streets, and have access to health care and housing.
Everyone Matters allows the viewer to hear from transgender people first-hand about their lives, and makes a powerful case for the passage of transgender-inclusive non-discrimination and hate crimes laws in Massachusetts and beyond.
“This is a great resource,” said MA Representative and legislative sponsor Carl Sciortino. “It shows the very real challenges faced by transgender individuals, and makes it clear that we must take legislative action to ensure that everyone’s rights are protected.”
The video is available to view online at http://www.glad.org/work/everyone-matters
The producers intend to make it widely available for educational use.
A public screening will take place at the Massachusetts State House on Tuesday, April 7, in conjunction with the lobby day for An Act Relative to Gender Based Discrimination and Hate Crimes. People are invited to gather at the Grand Staircase at 10am for a program of speakers (to be announced) and the screening of Everyone Matters, before meeting with their representatives to discuss the importance of passing transgender-inclusive non-discrimination and hate crimes legislation.
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About GLAD: Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders is New England’s leading legal organization devoted to ending discrimination based on sexual orientation, HIV status, and gender identity and expression. www.glad.org
About MTPC: Massachusetts Transgender Political Coalition is dedicated to ending discrimination on the basis of gender identity and gender expression. www.masstpc.org
About MassEquality: MassEquality works to protect, promote and defend marriage equality and to advance lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender rights. Our premise is simple: we believe that every LGBT person deserves to be treated equally, to feel safe, and to be free from discrimination based on their sexual orientation or
gender identity. www.massequality.org
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Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders is New England's leading legal organization dedicated to ending discrimination based on sexual orientation, HIV status, and gender identity and expression.