• Deval Patrick, Massachusetts Governor, Signs Transgender Equal Rights Bill Into Effect
    47 replies, posted
[TABLE="width: 600"] [TR] [TD][IMG]http://s.huffpost.com/images/v/logos/v4/homepage.gif?v9[/IMG][/TD] [TD][/TD] [/TR] [/TABLE] [release] [B]Massachusetts officially became the 16th state to treat transgender citizens as a protected class today as Governor Deval Patrick hosted a ceremonial signing of the groundbreaking rights bill.[/B] As Colorlines is reporting, [highlight]the law legally protects transgender individuals from discrimination in housing, education, employment and credit, in addition to providing additional civil rights and protections from hate crimes.[/highlight] "I sign this bill as a matter of conscience; people should be able to come before their government as equals," Patrick is quoted as having said as he signed "An Act Relative to Gender Identity" into law. Though Patrick had actually signed the bill in his office in late November, Thursday's event was a ceremonial start-of-the-year one that drew an overflowing crowd from the local transgender community, local network WWLP is reporting. "This law is about affirming rights," Gunner Scott, Executive Director of the Massachusetts Transgender Political Coalition (MTPC), is quoted by Bay Windows as saying. "This law is for people who think they can deny us those rights... This piece of paper is not magic, but for many of us it is the result of hard work that will change our lives." Still, many transgender rights activists found fault with the new legislation, drawing attention to its lack of public accommodation protections. Last fall's removal of such a protection, which would have required all "sex-segregated facilities" such as rest rooms or locker rooms to grant admission to people based on gender identity was heavily criticized by many who considered it a key component. “Just because it’s such a basic right for people and the fact that it’s not protected is kind of atrocious,” said Kaylin MacNeil of Holyoke. According to the Associated Press, an estimated 33,000 transgender citizens reside in Massachusetts. [/release] [TABLE="width: 600"] [TR] [TD][IMG]http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7162/6727841463_61114db059_z.jpg[/IMG][/TD] [TD][IMG]http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7163/6727843561_9231932780_z.jpg[/IMG][/TD] [/TR] [/TABLE] [URL="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/01/20/deval-patrick-massachusetts-governor-transgender-rights-bill_n_1219121.html"]Source[/URL]
About damn time. This is great news :)
this is really good to hear :)
Wonderful :)
Smileys all around. Don't break the trend, guys. :) [editline]21st January 2012[/editline] Something tells me that this is the psychological equivalent of an "I haven't had much contact with transgendered people and I wouldn't call myself 100% comfortable around them because I don't know them well, but I agree that they should never be discriminated against and so this is a happy smiley" smiley. :) At least, I'll admit, that's what I mean by that smiley.
I just added it because you two did :)
:)
I love you guys :) [editline]dsadg[/editline] No, YOU'RE optimistic, Elecbullet. :)
:) [quote]Last fall's removal of such a protection, which would have required all "sex-segregated facilities" such as rest rooms or locker rooms to grant admission to people based on gender identity was heavily criticized by many who considered it a key component.[/quote] :( aww [B]fuck[/B]
Of course such a liberal and godless law would be passed by a man almost named devil the armies of hell march forward once again thanks to the left, and this time they're giving human beings equal rights, a sad day for humanity
[QUOTE=Zeke129;34319105]Of course such a liberal and godless act would be passed by a man almost named devil[/QUOTE] Goddammit, Zeke :(
[QUOTE=Zeke129;34319105]Of course such a liberal and godless law would be passed by a man almost named devil the armies of hell march forward once again thanks to the left, and this time they're giving human beings equal rights, a sad day for humanity[/QUOTE] hahahaa no
[QUOTE=Zeke129;34319105]Of course such a liberal and godless law would be passed by a man almost named devil the armies of hell march forward once again thanks to the left, and this time they're giving human beings equal rights, a sad day for humanity[/QUOTE] No it's actually pronounced bill [editline]20th January 2012[/editline] the deval part is silent
Woo, I love living in MA. The smell of progress.
[QUOTE=Ninja Duck;34319227]Woo, I love living in MA. The smell of progress.[/QUOTE] It hasn't felt like that in a long time
[QUOTE=IliekBoxes;34319173]hahahaa no[/QUOTE]You have no idea what sarcasm is, do you? Good thing you like boxes, because here is one.
Isn't Massachusetts pretty tolerant to gays, bisexuals, and transsexuals already along with most of the east coast?
[QUOTE=SpaceGhost;34319274]Isn't Massachusetts pretty tolerant to gays, bisexuals, and transsexuals already along with most of the east coast?[/QUOTE] I think Massachusetts is one of the most progressive states in the US. I could be wrong, though.
[QUOTE=SpaceGhost;34319274]Isn't Massachusetts pretty tolerant to gays, bisexuals, and transsexuals already along with most of the east coast?[/QUOTE] well keep in mind there's a northeast and a southeast You have an island of liberalism in the Northeast, and California on the other end.
Man. If only Massachusetts lacked large quantities of snow.
I'd kill for snow in Alabama.
[QUOTE=Elecbullet;34319407]I'd kill for snow in Alabama.[/QUOTE]I killed for the Snow God once, all I got was freezing rain, so fuck him. On topic, this is good.
[QUOTE=Ninja Duck;34319227]Woo, I love living in MA. The smell of progress.[/QUOTE] prahgress*
[QUOTE=Zeke129;34319105]Of course such a liberal and godless law would be passed by a man almost named devil the armies of hell march forward once again thanks to the left, and this time they're giving human beings equal rights, a sad day for humanity[/QUOTE] it's political correctness gone mad i say!!
[QUOTE=SpaceGhost;34319274]Isn't Massachusetts pretty tolerant to gays, bisexuals, and transsexuals already along with most of the east coast?[/QUOTE] First state to legalize gay marriage. [editline]21st January 2012[/editline] [QUOTE=KingPariah;34319392]Man. If only Massachusetts lacked large quantities of snow.[/QUOTE] Today there's over 7 inches of snow on Cape Cod.
[QUOTE=thisispain;34320115]it's political correctness gone mad i say!![/QUOTE] now we got a devil and a osama in politics what has america come to
Who let someone with common sense into politics? We need to clone them about 9001 times and put them in charge of every election.
Proud to be a resident of the Almighty Commonwealth of Massachusetts. I guess I can see why my conservative, Christian, Republican grandparents who live in Maine are always bitching about Deval Patrick when I visit them.
[QUOTE=IliekBoxes;34319173]hahahaa no[/QUOTE] He don't know Zeke very well, do he?
I love my state so much.
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