Wednesday, May 5, 2010
MA Bishops Send Letter to Legislators in Support of Transgender Nondiscrimination Bill
http://interfaithcoalition.blogspot.com/2010/05/ma-bishops-send-letter-to-legislators.html (http://interfaithcoalition.blogspot.com/2010/05/ma-bishops-send-letter-to-legislators.html)
Bishops M. Thomas Shaw and Roy ("Bud") Cederholm of the Diocese of Massachusetts this week sent letters to Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick, Senate President Therese Murray and House Speaker Robert DeLeo pressing them to pass the state's Transgender Civil Rights bill. "An Act Relative to Gender-Based Discrimination and Hate Crimes" (House Bill #1728 and Senate Bill #1687) is slated to either make it out of the Judiciary Committee or die there for a third straight year this Friday, May 7th.
The bishops' letter follows unprecedented coverage of the bill by Boston area newspapers (including a supportive op ed by the Globe), after Republican gubernatorial candidate Charlie Baker announced that he would veto the legislation if it crossed his desk. His team handed out fliers referring to the legislation as "the bathroom bill," taking up the rhetoric of the virulently anti-LGBT group Mass Resistance (and groups battling similar legislation in other states) which tries to stoke fears that such legislation will make women and children vulnerable in bathrooms and locker rooms.
:) Zythyra,
Thank you so much for posting this article. Every time leaders of faith
communities support this kind of nondiscrimination legislation, they are
giving the lie to their fellows who use their religion as an excuse for anti-
trans and anti-LGBT actions!
Best,
:icon_chick: Sandra