Tuesday, May 24, 2016

Massachusetts Senate Passes Trans Rights Legislation

While the legislatures in North Carolina, Texas, Oklahoma have been living in fear over the idea of trans females using the ladies — as they have done without incident four years — something almost miraculous happened in the Massachusetts Senate the other day.

They passed a transgender rights bill by a vote of 33-4 — the four opposing votes were all from Republicans … go figure.

This new bill protects transgender people in places of public accommodation, including restrooms that correspond with their gender identity.
"As a member of the LGBT community it's really big for me. This is a fundamental right."  Stan Rosenberg, Democratic Senate President
But the anti-LGBT forces were incensed ….
"If this legislation is passed, woman and children will have no protections against being ogled by, or exposed to, naked men." — Massachusetts Family Institute President Andrew Beckwith
During the debate, the Massachusetts Family Institute paraded children though the statehouse holding signs that read, "No Bathroom Bill."

The bill now heads to the House, which passed a different version, and then it’s on to the desk of Governor Charlie Baker, a Republican. He has indicated a preference for the House version which includes more restrictions.

A Baker spokesperson says the governor “will carefully review a bill should the legislature act” but that the governor “believes no one should be discriminated against based on gender identity.”

Here’s hoping sanity prevails over fear and this bill becomes law in Massachusetts.

After all, it was Massachusetts that started this whole marriage equality thing back in 2004, so maybe they’ll start a trend towards acceptance and understanding the ability to simply use a bathroom.

7 comments:

  1. every state should be forward thinking like MA!

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  2. Hopefully they won't go the way of WA. Governor mandated. Legislature passed it and now we have some persons trying to get an initiative on the ballot to turn it back. (Still have not seen it outside our grocery store so I can refuse to sign it.)

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  3. "If this legislation is passed, woman and children will have no protections against being ogled by, or exposed to, naked men."

    Sigh....

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  4. I'd swear, for a state the size of Kim K's ass, Massachusetts always is setting and passing the standards I swear. Very hip and open minded. Bravo Mass!!!!! What a example to look after ALL ITS CITIZENS.

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  5. "During the debate, the Massachusetts Family Institute paraded children though the statehouse holding signs that read, "No Bathroom Bill." "

    Does that mean that if my name is William/Bill that I won't be able to use the toilet either? The Christianists just keep enlarging the circle, so pretty soon folks will just stay home and the economy will come to a screeching halt (there is only so much that you can do on line).

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  6. Frankly just how many people get naked in public toilets? I've never seen someone and, even more frankly, if I did I would be joining in a chorus of laughter from all the other women in the toilets. Naked men in public places mostly arouse amusement rather than lust!

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  7. Ah, for sanity. As for those other States (of confusion), I don't think any of those legislators are actually worried about who uses what bathroom. Fighting gay marriage is a no-win and if they didn't find something else to attack they might have address the real issues of their constituents -- like illiteracy, poverty, violence, unemployment, corruption.

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