Sen. Downing - Transgender Equal Rights

On November 16, 2011 the Massachusetts Senate, under the leadership of State Senator Benjamin B. Downing (D- Pittsfield), endorsed legislation extending protections for transgender citizens by adding the term "gender identity" to the state's non-discrimination law in matters related to employment, education, housing and credit, as well as to the Commonwealth's hate crimes law.

This action makes Massachusetts the sixteenth state to join the District of Columbia and 136 municipalities nationwide with laws and ordinances protecting transgender people from discrimination.

The legislation defines "gender identity" to mean a person's gender-related identity, appearance or behavior, whether or not that gender-related identity, appearance or behavior is different from that traditionally associated with the person's physiology or assigned sex at birth. It also stipulates that gender-related identity shall not be asserted for any improper purpose.

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