The Massachusetts House of Representatives brought the transgender public accommodations bill one step closer to becoming state law today, June 1, with an overwhelmingly supportive vote of 116—36.
According to MassEquality‘s Executive Director Deborah Shields:
“[We] applaud the House of Representatives’ vote to pass HB 4343 today, and join the transgender community in celebrating this milestone in transgender rights in Massachusetts. The bill passed by a veto-proof majority of 116-36. This historic vote clears the way for full anti-discrimination protection for transgender people across Massachusetts, and is a significant victory in the face of the disturbing trend of legislation targeting transgender people and undermining their basic civil rights being introduced in states and municipalities across the country.
“We extend our sincere thanks to Speaker of the House Robert DeLeo and bill co-sponsors Denise Provost and Byron Rushing for their strong support of the bill and their leadership on this important issue. We also thank the 116 Representatives who voted today to extend the Commonwealth’s anti-discrimination law to cover transgender people and finally close the glaring gap in legal protection that was left open with the signing of the Transgender Equal Rights Law in 2012. With their vote, they have affirmed the principle that discrimination has no place in Massachusetts.”
We at Boston Spirit magazine applaud all the hard work of advocates and legislators! Check out this website for more to come on this breaking news story.
