Why Doesn't MA's Trans Rights Bill Protect Trans People From Public Discrimination?
By: Daniel Villarreal
On: Nov 15, 2011
http://www.queerty.com/why-wont-mas-trans-rights-bill-protect-trans-people-from-public-discrimination-20111115/ (http://www.queerty.com/why-wont-mas-trans-rights-bill-protect-trans-people-from-public-discrimination-20111115/)
On Tuesday, a Joint Judiciary Committee in the Massachusetts legislature advanced a six-year-old bill that would include trans people as a "protected class" in the state's hate crime laws, prohibiting discrimination based on gender identity in jobs, housing, insurance, mortgage loans and credit—that's good, right?
Well... the bill also shares a big flaw with a similar trans rights measure that died in Maryland just this last April—it doesn't guarantee trans people the right to recieve proper "public accommodations" in hospitals, bathrooms gyms, restaurants, hotels or public transit.
The bill's sponsors dropped public accommodation protections to garner Republican support for the bill—because letting trans people use public restroom will endanger daughters and wives, naturally.
I live in Massachusetts. The radio is flooded with ads saying that giving transgendered people rights will take away jobs and kill the economy. But I'm transgendered. I work and pay taxes. I served my country. Since when does giving people their rights take away jobs?