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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.

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
  • 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
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

All Issues in Massachusetts

Disclaimer: 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.