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Transgender Equal Rights Act to take effect in Massachusetts
The Republican By Robert Rizzuto | Published: Friday, June 29, 2012, 9:15 PM
http://www.masslive.com/politics/index.ssf/2012/06/transgender_equal_rights_act_t.html (http://www.masslive.com/politics/index.ssf/2012/06/transgender_equal_rights_act_t.html)
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File photo | The Republican Advocates of the Transgender Equal Rights Act in the Massachusetts legislature made concessions about provisions relating to discrimination in public places after opponents raised concerns about privacy, particularly relating to restrooms.
Beginning on Sunday, transgender citizens in Massachusetts will be legally protected from certain forms of discrimination, as they are in 15 other states and in Washington D.C.
The Transgender Equal Rights Act, as signed by Gov. Deval Patrick in late 2011, makes it illegal to discriminate on the basis of gender identity in relation to employment, housing, public education and obtaining credit. Additionally, it extends hate crimes protections to transgender citizens, making attacks that occur based on discriminatory factors more serious offenses.
Gender identity protections become law in Massachusetts July 1
July 1, 2012 06:49 AM
BY GAY & LESBIAN ADVOCATES & DEFENDERS
http://www.boston.com/yourtown/news/allston_brighton/2012/07/gender_identity_protections_be.html (http://www.boston.com/yourtown/news/allston_brighton/2012/07/gender_identity_protections_be.html)
How does the law define "gender identity"?
H3810 defines "gender identity" as "a person's gender-related identity, appearance or behavior, whether or not that gender-related identity or behavior is different from that traditionally associated with the person's physiology or assigned sex at birth." The law allows a person to demonstrate his/her gender identity by providing evidence including: medical history; care or treatment of the gender identity; consistent and uniform assertion of the gender identity; or any other evidence that the gender identity is sincerely held as part of a person's core identity.
Must a person be able to prove his/her gender identity in order to be protected by the law?
No. The law prohibits discrimination on the basis of gender identity regardless of what a person's gender identity is. The law includes several ways that a person may demonstrate his/her gender identity though it does not require proof of any particular gender identity for protection. The law does state, however, that a person may not bring a claim of discrimination based on asserting a gender identity for any "improper purpose.
"Yesterday Massachusetts officially joined 15 other states and the District of Columbia in extending critical anti-discrimination protections to transgender people."
"The new law, which took effect July 1, was signed by Governor Deval Patrick in November of last year"
https://www.hrc.org/blog/entry/transgender-anti-discrimination-law-takes-effect-in-massachusetts (https://www.hrc.org/blog/entry/transgender-anti-discrimination-law-takes-effect-in-massachusetts)