MASSACHUSETTS: Senate Approves Trans Rights Bill

May 12, 2016 Civil Rights, LGBT News

Minutes ago the Massachusetts Senate overwhelmingly approved a transgender rights bill. The vote was 33-4. More from Reuters:



The bill, which would make Massachusetts the 18th U.S. state to prohibit discrimination based on gender identity, has strong support in the Democratic-controlled legislature, although Republican Governor Charlie Baker has not said whether he would sign it.

State Senator Sonia Chang-Diaz, the Massachusetts bill’s sponsor, noted the state had a long history of promoting civil rights, dating back to an 1865 law ensuring that black Americans would have equal access to public spaces and continuing through becoming the first U.S. state to legalize gay marriage in 2004.

“In Massachusetts we are civil rights pioneers by nature … and that is why it is particularly difficult to fathom how in 2016 we are still fighting for public accommodations,” Chang-Diaz said. Baker, a socially liberal Republican, has said he will make a decision when he sees the final language.

“Governor Baker believes no one should be discriminated against based on gender identity,” Baker spokeswoman Lizzy Guyton said in an email, adding the governor “will carefully review a bill should the legislature act.”

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