Massachusetts
Your Rights: Massachusetts
GLAD’s historic 2003 victory in Goodridge v. Department of Public Health made Massachusetts the first state in the U.S. to grant same-sex couples full marriage equality. Massachusetts law explicitly prohibits discrimination based on gender identity, sexual orientation and HIV status.
Discrimination
Does state law ban discrimination in employment, credit and housing based on sexual orientation?
Yes
Does state law ban discrimination in public accommodations based on sexual orientation?
Yes
Does state law ban discrimination in employment, credit and housing based on gender identity or expression?
Yes
Does state law ban discrimination in public accommodations based on gender identity or expression?
Yes
Parenting
Can a single gay, lesbian or bisexual person adopt a child?
Yes
Can a person in a same-sex relationship adopt their partner’s biological child?
Yes
Does state law provide other legal recognition of parent-child relationships?
Yes
Health Care
Are most insurers prohibited from excluding transition-related health care from coverage?
Yes
Is there a state-specific bulletin regarding transition-related health care?
Yes
Does state law ban discrimination in health care on the basis of sexual orientation, gender identity, or expression?
Yes
HIV/AIDS
Has the state criminalized the transmission of HIV?
No
Is there an HIV testing law that protects against coerced and/or uninformed testing?
Yes
Does state law protect privacy of HIV status?
Yes
Does state law ban discrimination based on HIV status?
Yes
Transgender Rights
Is there a straightforward way to change gender on a drivers license or state ID?
Yes
Is there a straightforward way to change gender on birth certificates?
Yes
Does state law ban discrimination in employment, credit and housing based on gender identity or expression?
Yes
Does state law ban discrimination in public accommodations based on gender identity or expression?
Yes
Does the state provide guidance on the fair treatment of transgender students?
Yes
Are most insurers prohibited from excluding transition-related health care from coverage?
Yes
Is there a state-specific bulletin regarding transition-related health care?
Yes
Youth
Is there an LGBTQ-inclusive anti-bullying law?
Yes
Does the state provide guidance on the fair treatment of transgender students?
Yes
Does the state protect the formation of GSAs in school?
Yes
Does the state ban the practice of conversion therapy for minors?
Yes
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