HRC continues to fight for trans rights in Massachusetts
July 16, 2009
On July 14th, the Massachusetts Joint Committee of the Judiciary heard public comment on H 1728/S 1687, An Act Relative to Gender-Based Discrimination and Hate Crimes. The bill would add Massachusetts to 13 other states, Washington D.C., and 108 counties and cities (including Boston, Cambridge, Northampton, and Amherst) that protect transgender people against discrimination. HRC submitted testimony in advance of the hearing and here is a report from MassEquality organizer Ryan Brown:
The hearing was awesome. People testifying in support of trans equality did a phenomenal job, and the folks opposing were so offensive, it made us look really good. At one point, an opponent referred to trans people as gender-wannabes and the committee chair stopped and threatened to recess the hearing if insults kept being throw around. It was good! No specific numbers to report, but the hearing room was filled to capacity (around 500, I estimate).
Following the hearing, HRC staff and volunteers phonebanked Massachusetts voters to ask them to continue contacting members of the Joint Judiciary Committee in support of the bill. HRC is proud to support the work with our allies at the Massachusetts Transgender Political Committee and MassEquality to pass this important bill. If you live in Massachusetts, take action on these important bills.
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