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NEW UPDATE !!! Transgender Bill passes in House goes to Senate for Wed Vote and the haters and the silly people are out in force !!

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I have copied below Sheila Decter’s alert from JALSA, since it says everything very neatly

Dear Judy,

For several years, JALSA has worked with the Massachusetts Transgender Political Caucus and groups throughout the state to encourage “gender identity” to be added to the protections of 151 B, our anti-discrimination statute in Massachusetts. Among a broad array of supportive measures, JALSA has facilitated the participation of expert witnesses at these hearings. it has seemed evident that the vast majority of the legislature has been prepared to add basic civil rights protections on the basis of gender identify if the Judiciary Committee would just allow the bill to proceed to the Floor. Today, at last, that debate will take place.

Lawmakers are expected to vote on the Transgender Equal Rights bill TODAY .

Please take a moment NOW to contact your state lawmakers to ask for their support of this bill.

Your request for support from state lawmakers is vital.
Opponents of the bill have been swamping the inboxes of lawmakers. Lawmakers need to know that the public and their constituents support this bill!

Over the next 8 hours, it is critical that lawmakers hear from bill supporters!

Phonebanking will be taking place all day today. The Massachusetts Transgender Political Coalition has asked for volunteers. During phone banks, volunteers will be asked to talk to constituents and transfer supporters of the bill directly to their lawmakers’ voicemail boxes so they can leave messages in support of the bill. Call Justin at 617.878.2344 to sign up or send him an email!

In the days ahead, you may hear confusing things about this bill. To be clear, this bill provides vital protections in employment, education, housing, credit, and hate crimes which transgender residents of the Commonwealth desperately need. The bill is not perfect as it does not include public accommodations protections, but it is a solid civil rights bill that represents an historic step forward in supporting full civil rights protections for the transgender community.

Please contact lawmakers today and ask them to vote in favor of this bill.

The following suggestions come from the MTPC:

What to say when you call:
“Hello, my name is______, and I am a constituent of Representative/Senator______. I’m calling because I want him/her to vote in support of H 502/S764 “An Act Relative to Transgender Equal Rights” and ask leadership to bring this up for a vote before the end of the year. I’d like to hear from my legislator about their stance on the bill and if they are going to speak with leadership. When should I expect to hear back from you?”

How to email
To find your legislator’s name and email address go to
http://www.malegislature.gov/people/findmylegislator

Draft email:
Hello, my name is______, and I am a constituent of yours and I live at _______(address, city). I’m writing because I want you to support H 502/S764 “An Act Relative to Transgender Equal Rights” I’d like to hear from you about your stance on this bill and if you are going vote in support of this important legislation.
Thank you
Your Name, City

and forward this email to everyone you know
Note: (Please use the forward at the bottom of this email –rather than the one in your email program — so that the person you forward this to does not inadvertently unsubscribe you from JALSA’s email.)

Use Subject Line: Lawmakers Advance Trans Rights Bill

Thank you,
Sheila Decter, Executive Director
Jewish Alliance for Law & Social Action

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  2. from the SHNS

    A transgender rights bill was also generating a heavy amount of buzz Tuesday on the hill and House leaders encountered resistance at 6 p.m. when they tried to bring the bill to the floor.

    An hour after the Judiciary Committee endorsed a bill that backers say would strengthen the civil rights of transgender Massachusetts residents, 11 freshman Republican lawmakers held a press conference outside the House chamber Tuesday morning to call for the bill’s defeat, contending it would strangle small businesses and lead to a flood of litigation.

    Rep. Marc Lombardo (R-Billerica), joined by 10 colleagues and Republican Congressional candidate Bill Hudak, describe scenarios in which small businesses would shutter if a transitioning transgender person scared away clients.

    The bill, added Rep. Paul Adams (R-Andover), “encourages politicians to cater to special interests.”

    Republicans at the press conference said they opposed violence against any person but emphasized that Massachusetts has “progressive” hate crimes laws and said adding another protection would be duplicative.

    About 55 lawmakers have signed on as cosponsors of the original legislation filed by Rep. Carl Sciortino (D-Medford). The Judiciary Committee revised the bill to strike language that would have required public accommodations be available to support transgender men and women.

    Democratic Party Chair John Walsh issued a statement in the wake of the committee’s vote, saying transgender individuals in Massachusetts “can be fired from their job just for being who they are.” Walsh said, “Now that it is out of committee, we hope that the legislature will look past the divisive rhetoric of those who want to move the clock back on civil rights and pass this important bill.”

    During floor remarks after 6 p.m., Assistant Minority Leader George Peterson suggested the transgender rights bill was being sped through without a review of its financial impacts.

  4. Name calling, of course!

    @GreaterBostonTP
    Christen Varley

    “After 7+ years, I finally understand the word Masshole. Hard to define but I know it when I see it. #bathroombill #teaparty #mapoli”
    3 hours ago via Twitter for iPhone

    • Yet more proof that the “Tea Party” is just the Ultra Right Religious Base of the GOP under a new name.

  5. Good work by Gene! On to the Senate
    From SHNS

    HOUSE BACKS TRANSGENDER PROTECTIONS, BILL HEADS TO SENATE FOR LIKELY VOTE

    By Kyle Cheney
    STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE

    STATE HOUSE, BOSTON, NOV. 15, 2011…..Transgender men and women in Massachusetts would be protected in the state’s anti-discrimination laws under a bill endorsed by the House Tuesday that backers described as a victory for the civil rights of a small but embattled community.

    “What I want you to think about before you make this vote is there’s this small, discreet group of individuals that this will literally change their lives,” said Rep. Eugene O’Flaherty (D-Chelsea) minutes before his colleagues voted 95-58 in support of the bill.

    “This will give them the faith and the confidence to be comfortable with who they are as individuals, to seek employment if they are skilled and have the ability to apply for a job. If they’re in a housing situation, they cannot be denied shelter because of who they are. And if they are singled out because of who they are and physical harm is brought to them, they should be given the protections in our hate crimes law,” O’Flaherty continued.

    The bill overcame the objections of 32 of the House’s 33 Republicans and 26 Democrats, some of whom argued that they feared the bill would lead to a deluge of litigation that could swamp small businesses.

    “The lack of clarity is going to create havoc for business owners and individuals who are trying to earn a living and comply with the law,” said Sheila Harrington (R-Groton).

    The bill passed the same day that a band of House Republican freshmen stood together to decry the bill as a special interest giveaway that was distracting from legislative efforts to create jobs.

    The bill now heads to the Senate, where supporters say they expect a vote Wednesday before lawmakers embark on a seven-week recess that begins at the end of the day. Gov. Deval Patrick said Tuesday he would support the legislation if it reaches his desk.

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