Think about it! EMC, Harvard University, Harvard Pilgrim Health Care, and John Hancock – to name just a few – are among the growing number of Massachusetts employers providing equal opportunities and protections to transgender people. Shouldn’t our state laws do the same?
Since legislation was first filed in 2007, the BBA has supported adding “gender identity and expression” to the state’s civil rights laws and to the list of offenses that are treated as hate crimes. A simple update to the Massachusetts discrimination laws, An Act Relative to Transgender Equal Rights really is a civil rights bill that would provide explicit protection to transgender people. Current Massachusetts civil rights laws prohibit discrimination only on the basis of age, race, creed, color, national origin, sexual orientation, sex and marital status.
Isn’t it about time that Massachusetts joins the growing number of states that already have laws protecting transgender people? A June 8th Judiciary Committee hearing is the next step in that process. The Judiciary Committee will hear testimony on H 502 and S 764, filed in the House by Representative Carl Sciortino and in the Senate by Senator Benjamin Downing.
We have made progress in this area. The Boston City Council passed a transgender protection ordinance nine years ago and earlier this year Governor Patrick signed an executive order banning discrimination against transgender state workers. With this order, Massachusetts joins several other states with executive orders protecting transgender state workers.
While these are significant steps, Massachusetts should protect all workers and not just state workers.
As in past legislative sessions, supporters of this proposal will probably far outnumber opponents. Even so, next week’s Judiciary Committee hearing is important. If this bill is passed, Massachusetts won’t be just joining a growing number of jurisdictions around the country that are enacting transgender-inclusive laws, but will be making a significant statement — that discrimination against transgender individuals is inconsistent with our common desire to live in a just society.
-Kathleen Joyce
Government Relations Director
Boston Bar Association
