Success, celebration, and a step forward
by Hannah Clay Wareham
Associate Editor
Thursday Dec 29, 2011
http://www.baywindows.com/index.php?ch=news&sc=glbt&sc2=news&sc3=&id=1283112011 was the year transgender equal rights took center stage in Massachusetts.
The hard work and dedication of transgender rights advocates, allies, and volunteers came to a head this year with a handful of momentous wins.
The victories
It began in February, when Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick signed an executive order extending protections against discrimination to the state's transgender employees. In addition to all state agencies and programs, the executive order also applied to any businesses that contract with the state.
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The next win was even more exciting. Gov. Patrick signed into law the Transgender Equal Rights Bill on Nov. 23. The proposed legislation had been passed by the House on Nov. 15 and the Senate on Nov. 16. The new law will take effect July 1, 2012.
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Heroes of 2011: Gunner Scott and Rep. Carl Sciortino
by Sue O'Connell
co-publisher
Thursday Dec 29, 2011
http://www.baywindows.com/index.php?ch=opinion&sc=editorial&sc2=news&sc3=&id=128312The saying goes "Victory has a thousand fathers, but defeat is an orphan." Except when it comes to this year's passage of the Transgender Equal Rights Bill. It's an understatement to say that the basic rights of the transgender community, a minority of minorities, was very low on everyone's priority list. Even in victory few have stepped forward to take credit. On its face, that's an odd turn of events for elected officials after the successful passage of civil rights protections-especially on the precipice of an election year. Upon deeper analysis, however, there's enough evidence of poor plan execution by advocacy organizations, petty score settling by elected leaders, and apathy from our community (both civilian and elected) to guarantee that most just want this issue to go away.
That's why we are recognizing the extraordinary efforts of Gunner Scott, Executive Director of the Massachusetts Transgender Political Coalition (MTPC) and State Representative Carl Sciortino. Along with the MTPC, Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders (GLAD), the Massachusetts Gay and Lesbian Political Caucus, MassEquality, and the American Civil Liberties Union of Massachusetts, these two leaders were able to hold a volatile coalition together and push forward these basic rights. Leadership from Gov. Deval Patrick, state Rep. Byron Rushing and state senators Ben Downing and Sonia Chang-Díaz sealed the deal.
