June 9, 2011
By: Marilyn Humphries
The Legislature’s Joint Committee on the Judiciary heard public testimony, Wednesday, June 8, on a transgender-rights bill, which, if enacted, would ban discrimination on the basis of “gender identity” and “gender expression” in employment, housing, education, credit, and
Advocates hope the committee gives the measure a favorable report, advancing the bill to the House and Senate for debate and passage. Governor Deval Patrick has said he will sign the bill into law.
A group of state representatives and senators testified before the committee, with Rep. Carl Sciortino (Dem. – Medford), a co-sponsor of the House bill, reading the names of transgender individuals who had been brutally murdered in Massachusetts since the late 1970s.
Later on, Nancy Nangeroni and Eva Krauss testified to the harassment and discrimination they experienced on the job.
Attorney Jennifer Levi, transgender rights project director at the Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders, also testified at some length before lawmakers. Committee members questioned her about legal technicalities of the bill.
Superintendent Christopher Burke of the Cambridge Police Department noted there have been no problems since the city council passed an amendment in 1997 to its Human Rights Ordinance, providing broad protections for freedom of gender expression and identity.
Opponents focused on fears of bathroom safety.
