Today the Boston (MA) City Council unanimously passed a resolution supporting the passage of the Transgender Equal Rights Bill into law. Yet another reason I love my hometown!
Here is MTPC's press release (http://www.masstpc.org/?p=1300):
Boston City Council Unanimously Passes a Resolution in Support of An Act Relative to Transgender Equal Rights
[Boston, MA 03-09-11] — The Massachusetts Transgender Political Coalition (MTPC) is pleased to report that on Wednesday March 9, 2011, the Boston City Council unanimously passed a Resolution in Support of An Act Relative to Transgender Equal Rights.
The resolution was originally offered by Boston City Councilor At-Large Felix Arroyo and quickly supported by Councilor At-Large Ayanna Pressley and Councilor At-Large John Connolly, as both asked to join Arroyo in offering the resolution. As the councilors discussed the resolution, in a strong show of support, the remaining nine city councilors (President At-Large Stephen Murphy, Councilor Maureen Feeney, Councilor Charles Yancey, Councilor Salvatore LaMattina,
Councilor Bill Linehan, Councilor Robert Consalvo, Councilor Matt O’Malley, Councilor Michael Ross, and Councilor Mark Ciommo) asked to be included in offering the resolution, and then unanimously passed it.
The resolution, in part, states, “The City of Boston currently protects transgender youth and adults on the basis of gender identity and gender expression in the city’s non-discrimination ordinance and has done so through ordinance since 2002; and Massachusetts transgender youth, adults, and their families continue to face pervasive discrimination and violence because of widespread prejudice.” The resolution concludes with, “The Boston City Council goes on record in support of “An Act Relative to Transgender Equal Rights” HB 502/SB 764 and urges the Boston delegation of the Massachusetts Legislature and the leadership of the legislature to support a timely passage of this bill.”
Several of the councilors spoke of behalf of the resolution. Councilor Arroyo spoke passionately about his continued support for the legislation. Councilor Yancey recalled the work of former City
Councilor Chuck Turner, who in 2002 introduced the original city ordinance, while Councilor Feeney detailed the work she did to help pass that Boston ordinance back in 2002.
Many of the city councilors who spoke thanked Gunner Scott, Executive Director of the Massachusetts Transgender Political Coalition, and MTPC for the work they have done advancing the rights of transgender individuals.
“I am extremely moved by the unanimous passing of this Resolution in Support of An Act Relative to Transgender Equal Rights. The continued leadership from the Boston City Council in supporting the rights of transgender youth, adults, and families, is admirable and we hope that
the legislators will follow their lead and pass the Transgender Equal Rights legislation this session. Once again, we thank the Boston City Council for their support” said Gunner Scott.
The continued support from the Boston City Council clearly shows that passing resolutions, ordinances, and legislation concerning transgender equal rights is a non-issue and is vital to strengthening the city of Boston. When some do not have the same rights as others, we all suffer, as proven through overwhelming accounts of discrimination and mistreatment that transgender individuals living in the Commonwealth face.
For more information on MTPC and the Transgender Equal Rights legislation, please go to www.masstpc.org
###
About MTPC: Founded in 2001, the Massachusetts Transgender Political Coalition (MTPC) is dedicated to ending discrimination on the basis of gender identity and gender expression.
No comments:
Post a Comment