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.
Scroll down to search information about your rights on a specific issue in Massachusetts.
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- Is there state guidance for schools on fair treatment for 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
- 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
All Issues in Massachusetts
Discrimination
Credit, Lending & Services Employment Housing Public AccommodationsEmployment
DiscriminationHealth Care
Transition-Related CareHIV/AIDS
Discrimination Other HIV-Related Laws Testing & PrivacyMarriage & Relationships
Domestic Partnerships & Civil Unions MarriageParenting
Custody & Parentage Laws Second Parent AdoptionPolicing, Prisons, & Criminal Justice
Discriminatory Treatment Navigating Police InteractionsTransgender Rights
Discrimination Health Care ID Documents Public Accommodations StudentsViolence & Harassment
Bullying Hate Crimes Intimate Partner ViolenceYouth
Bullying Discrimination Employment Foster Care Gender Identity GSAs/LGBTQ Clubs HIV/AIDS Juvenile Justice School Youth OrganizationsDisclaimer: This website provides general information only and should not be taken as legal advice for any specific situation. Read our full Legal and Privacy Policy » If you have questions, need more information, or need help with a problem you are facing, please contact us at GLAD Answers.