Sure it’s overdue for MA to protect transgender rights. Over a dozen states and many dozens of cities (including Boston) already do. It should happen this legislative session, That battle is still going on and the larger war to roll back LGBT and marriage equality here is the real aim.
Over at Left Ahead, the executive directors of the groups working hardest for transgender rights spoke of the short and long-term struggles. Gunner Scott of the MA Transgender Political Coalition and Kara Suffredini of MassEquality described the fights current and pending.
Conditions are finally aligned to pass the Transgender Equal Rights Bill (H.502/S.764). Legislative leaders as well as the Governor support it. This has taken many years of education, lobbying, calls and personal visits from those in the transgender community.
The relatively small number in the community has made this harder than some civil rights efforts. However, Suffredini and Scott said that the broader LGBT community, as well as women’s rights and other organizations are on board with this effort now. They are still welcoming volunteers and contributions (details on their sites).
While the anti-rights folk have dwindled in numbers and support, they certainly haven’t given up. Suffredini notes that MA remains ground zero for the rights-rollback effort. The groups that intend to undo same-sex marriage and even basic gay rights keep the commonwealth as a prime target. Immediately, they would love to block the transgender-rights bill.
We tend to think of these rights as having been won. So there. Yet, listen in as Scott and Suffredini speak of what’s at risk both short and long term.
The anti-equality sorts continue with their own ad campaigns and lobbying. They depict the transgender issue in the basest fear-mongering terms. Ignoring the overt discrimination (still largely legal here) and even frequent violence, they pretend this is about letting men use girl’s public toilets. Suffredini describes how this shows the poverty of their position.
Click below to hear what’s going on right now and what to expect.
and learn more about it here.