News

Jul 15, 2010

Backers push for passage of transgender bill

By Katie Carlin for Boston Herald

Transgender rights advocates - set to powwow with House Speaker Robert DeLeo about their controversial anti-discrimination bill next week - blasted state lawmakers yesterday for holding up the legislation.

“We’re calling on the leadership to pass this bill this session,” said Gunner Scott, executive director of the Massachusetts Transgender Political Coalition. “We’re extremely frustrated that this bill has not been moved.”

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Jul 14, 2010

Advocates push transgender bill

By Jackie Bruno for WWLP.com

BOSTON, Mass. (WWLP) - Transgender advocates gathered at the State House Wednesday to push a bill that would provide more legal protection for transgender people.

It’s been dubbed the bathroom bill by critics because they are worried this will force companies to provide an additional bathroom for transgender people. But, this bill is about a lot more than just bathrooms.

This legislation would add "gender identity and expression" to the state's nondiscrimination laws. It would protect transgender people from being denied employment or housing.

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Jul 14, 2010

Transgender bill held up as supporters press lawmakers

By Lindsey Parietti / StateHouse News Service for Metro West Daily News

BOSTON - Transgender rights advocates pressured lawmakers Wednesday to vote on a bill that would protect transgender people in state non-discrimination and hate crime laws.

The bill, first filed in 2007, has been held up in the Judiciary Committee for most of the two-year session, despite having 104 co-sponsors in the House and Senate including House Speaker Robert DeLeo (D-Winthrop).

Through a spokesman, DeLeo observed that the bill is under consideration.

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Jul 14, 2010

Transgender Groups Pushing 'Bathroom Bill'

By WCVB TV for TheBostonChannel.com

BOSTON -- Transgender advocates gathered at the Statehouse Wednesday to urge state legislators to pass a bill that would grant transgender people increased legal protections.

The group demanded action on a bill stuck in committee.

"There are two weeks left in the legislative session. This is the right thing to do. It's about people lives, working families. It's about jobs. It's about giving people the dignity to walk down the street everyday," said Dee Dee Edmondson, of Mass Equality.

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