BREAKING: Trans Equal Rights Bill passes Senate on voice vote. UPDATED!
by Courtesy of Transgender Equal Rights Coalition
Bay Windows Contributor
Tuesday Nov 15, 2011

http://www.baywindows.com/index.php?ch=news&sc=glbt&sc2=news&sc3=&id=126797

The Transgender Equal Rights Bill passed in a Senate voice vote this morning at approximately 10:25 a.m. Sen. Ben Downing (D - Pittsfield), a sponsor of the Senate bill, spoke before the group this morning, followed by Senate President Therese Murray calling a voice vote. The ayes had it, and the bill was passed.

"It's a good day!" Kara Suffredini, Executive Director of MassEquality, told Bay Windows. The Senate addressed the bill "first thing this morning" and its next step is to move back to the House for enactment, and then to Gov. Deval Patrick's desk, where the staunch LGBT ally is expected to sign the bill.

HRC.ORG


Massachusetts Legislature Passes Transgender Equal Rights Bill

November 16, 2011 | Sarah Warbelow

http://www.hrc.org/blog/entry/massachusetts-legislature-passes-transgender-equal-rights-bill





Today, the Massachusetts Legislature voted to pass the Transgender Equal Rights Bill.  The bill adds protections to the state's civil rights laws against discrimination in employment, housing, education, and credit based on gender identity or expression and adds gender identity and expression to the state's hate crimes law.  The bill will go into effect 90 days after it is signed by Governor Patrick.

Massachusetts will become the 16th state along with  the District of Columbia in covering discrimination on the basis of gender identity and expression.  This legislative session alone, Connecticut, Hawaii, and Nevada also added gender identity to existing state non-discrimination law. Massachusetts was among the first states to add sexual orientation to the state's civil rights laws, doing so in 1989. For maps of nondiscrimination laws in the states, please visit: www.hrc.org/resources/entry/maps-of-state-laws-policies.











Transgender Equal Rights Now a Reality in Massachusetts

November 16th, 2011

http://www.masstpc.org/

The Massachusetts Transgender Political Coalition (MTPC) is proud to announce the passing of the Transgender Equal Rights Bill in the House and the Senate extending civil rights and hate crimes protections to the state's transgender residents.

Last night, just before 9:00 PM, the Massachusetts House of Representatives passed the Transgender Equal Rights bill without any amendments. This morning by 10:30 AM, the bill passed in the Massachusetts Senate. The bill must still be approved once more in Senate the Governor can sign it. As we wait for Governor Deval Patrick to officially sign this bill into law, we can celebrate the impact this will have on our transgender youth, adults, and families across the Commonwealth.