Transgender Community

Gender protections/"The Trans Bill" (H3810) in effect in MA as of today

Sun, 01 Jul 2012 12:48:00 GMT

Posted by: volare.livejournal.com

The Trans Bill takes effect July 1

BY GAY & LESBIAN ADVOCATES & DEFENDERS

Posted courtesy of Bay Windows

On November 23, 2011, Governor Deval Patrick signed into law H3810, An Act Relative to Gender Identity. This law adds “gender identity” as a protected characteristic to Massachusetts’ employment, housing, credit and public education anti-discrimination laws and to Massachusetts’ hate crimes law. All of these laws also protect several other characteristics, including sexual orientation, disability, sex, age, race, ancestry and religion, but this publication focuses on the transgender protections that H3810 provides. The law goes into effect on July 1, 2012.

( rest of article )

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US, MA: New Study Finds Employment Discrimination against Transgender Residents Costs the State Mill

Fri, 13 May 2011 13:48:58 GMT

Posted by: ftmichael

http://masstpc.org/?p=1358

New Study Finds Employment Discrimination against Transgender Residents of Massachusetts Costs the State Millions Annually
May 11th, 2011
For Immediate Release
Contact: Gunner Scott: 1617 778 0519
Kara Suffredini: 1617 878 2300

BOSTON — A new research study released today by The Williams Institute on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Law and Public Policy shows that employment discrimination against transgender residents of Massachusetts likely costs the state millions of dollars each year. These costs are the result of reduced income tax revenue, expenditures on public assistance programs, and other costs related to an increased need for public assistance programs. The added cost to the Commonwealth for public health insurance coverage alone is $3 million annually due to employment discrimination against transgender workers.

“When transgender people experience employment discrimination, not only can that have a substantial negative impact on people’s lives, but it also affects the Commonwealth financially so all Massachusetts residents pay a price,” said study author Jody L. Herman, the Peter J. Cooper Public Policy Fellow at the Williams Institute. “The legislature is making painful choices as it builds next year’s budget,” said Kara Suffredini, executive director of MassEquality. “This law would not cost the state a dime, but it could bring in millions of revenue and savings each year.”

“Employment discrimination erodes your dignity—and empties your pocketbook. When otherwise qualified people cannot find work solely because of who they are, the state loses money in lost tax revenues and increased expenditures on public programs such as MassHealth,” said Gunner Scott, executive director of the Massachusetts Transgender
Political Coalition.

In calculating the cost to the Commonwealth, the study estimates that 6,600 Massachusetts residents have lost a job, 12,900 were not hired for a job, and 5,600 were denied a promotion, all due to due to anti-transgender bias. Furthermore, 15 percent of surveyed transgender Massachusetts residents made $10,000 or less in annual household income, whereas only 3 percent of the Massachusetts general population made this amount.

Employment discrimination can lead to lost wages and the need to access public assistance programs to replace lost income and health insurance coverage. This study estimates that the Commonwealth may be losing millions in income tax revenues each year due to employment discrimination. In addition, the Commonwealth is spending nearly $3 million every year in public health insurance coverage for those who have lost jobs due to anti-transgender bias.

View or download the report

See press coverage

About the Transgender Equal Rights Coalition

The Transgender Equal Rights Coalition is working to pass “An Act Relative to Transgender Equal Rights.” (House Bill 502 and Senate Docket Number 536). This law would add gender identity and expression to existing Massachusetts civil rights laws, which currently prohibit discrimination on the basis of age, race, creed, color, national origin, sexual orientation, sex, and marital status in the areas of employment, housing, public accommodations, education, and credit. The bill would also add offenses regarding gender identity or expression to the list of offenses that are subject to treatment as hate crimes. The bill defines gender identity and expression as “a gender-related identity, appearance, expression, or behavior of an individual, regardless of the individual’s assigned sex at birth.” This is consistent with the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination’s past decisions, as well as Boston’s 2002 transgender anti-discrimination ordinance. Members of the coalition include MassNOW; ACLU of Massachusetts; Jane Doe, Inc., The Massachusetts Coalition Against Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence; National Association of Social Workers, MA; Mass AFL-CIO; Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders; Massachusetts Transgender Political Coalition; MassEquality; the Massachusetts Gay and Lesbian Political Caucus and the Massachusetts LGBTQ Bar Association.

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What words are there. Not enough I can find

Wed, 21 Jul 2010 07:00:00 GMT

Posted by: evilfemme001.livejournal.com

This story is in a liberal online news source I've admired for some time. They include in their report the birth name of the lady concerned ... and, though reporting the comments of others, don't seem to do much to distance themselves from those comment.

Please, do as I have done and email the paper - a lot - if you have the same issues with this 'report' as I do.

That said, the story itself is as staggering, though, sadly, not something we as a community are not used to. We have to keep fighting - we can't allow that to never change. Someday we have to find a point where this is something we do not have to be used to seeing. It shouldn't be a familiar thing ... it's wrong beyond wrong.

Not very eloquent of me ... but like I said ... can't find enough words ...

Kate Out

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Discrimination? or figment of my imagination?

Tue, 08 Jun 2010 20:51:00 GMT

Posted by: zoeyprncs.livejournal.com

This evening I was driving home from medical school. About a mile from my apartment in the suburbs, (out by Dash Point from Federal Way, WA for those who are familiar with the area it's quiet) I get pulled over by the local police. So I pull over after checking my speed, which was actually below limit.

( Read more )

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hooray ignorance and bigotry [quite controversial]

Tue, 07 Apr 2009 03:18:00 GMT

Posted by: elizabeth1010.livejournal.com

I just saw the latest posting of a recent ruling by the New Hampshire legislature on bathrooms. Though it should be passed on here. Worth reading, and really really pissed me off.

http://www.southernvoice.com/2009/4-3/news/national/9930.cfm

and if you really want to be angry, read the following response to the proposal of the article:

http://catholicism.org/new-hampshire-alert-transgender-rights-and-the-bathroom-bill.html

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Another attack in Sacramento, CA.

Mon, 23 Mar 2009 09:54:00 GMT

Posted by: tngsquill.livejournal.com

I got an email yesterday about another trans person who was attacked in Sacramento at a light-rail station. According to the email, the attacker may be the perpetrator of another hate crime here.
Man... I am just at a loss here. You know, NO-ONE should be a target for violence simply because of who they are! No-one -- that includes: women, people of other races, gay and lesbian people, trans individuals... the list goes on and on. But it seems like those in the trans community are seen as easy victims by thugs that wish to harm someone who is different then they are. And the bigger problem lies with the fact that we often are rather hidden in our societies and when a crime occurs against us it is invariably shoved under the carpet by the police and the media.
I know a trans named Jessica, which was the name of the victim that has yet to come forward and ID her attackers. I am not her friend really, we are simply too different in many aspects. But I don't hate her, and I sure hope that she is not the one that was attacked. It is horrible that anyone was attacked by these ruthless, inhuman thugs, but even though anything in my community hits close to home -- to actually know the victim would be... well, devestating.
I called one of the directors of the local Gay and Lesbian center to ask if there is a way that we could get the trans community together to discuss this. Maybe even have a police officer there to discuss with all of us ways to stay safe and what to do if attacked. I don't know -- I just feel like after last year when Ruby Molino was killed and now the recent spate of attacks against trans individuals here in Sacramento lately, we need to come together as a community and build bridges and networks to expand our safety zones and give some sense of a hope of protection and comfort in our surroundings back to all the trans' out there hidden out of fear in our community.
I feel some sense of responsibility to make this happen. Maybe I am over-stepping my bounds here. But, after the supreme court ruling we really need to be vigilant because the targets on our backs will grow exponentially. We always bear the brunt of acts of terrorists that want to send a message of intimidation and fear to the larger GLBT community. But we cannot give in to that fear. We cannot live our lives in hiding and give in to these thugs. But we need some sort of reassurrance, some sort of belief in our systems of laws that protect the innocent from violence and abuse. We need to come out of the wood-work and stand up together so that these crimes do not happen hidden and in the dark. We need to know that we are not alone.

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"How to Kill a Transperson"

Fri, 15 Feb 2008 12:21:00 GMT

Posted by: snugglebitch.livejournal.com

The following article was written for the March 2008 issue of The Empty Closet. It is available at The Empty Closet's website.

( How to Kill a Transperson )

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Mon, 14 Jan 2008 19:50:00 GMT

Posted by: runic-binary.livejournal.com

Hi everyone. I, unfortunately lacking a functioning home internet connection at current, am holed up in the local library doing research for my school Philosphy & Ethics project on self-determined gender identity rights. Could anyone be so kind as to name me what might be considered the most prominent (or few most prominent; more is better) anti-transgender rights group or movement, or perhaps point me toward a source for finding some? I need a few to contrast my pro-transgender rights groups (I've chosen the ACLU, AEGIS, and the Gender Public Advocacy Coalition, unless there's something about any of them of which I'm unaware and someone would like to name me a few better ones). I also need to have a brief overview of the issue's legal history, but I've had a bit more luck with that than with the anti-trans rights group serach. Still slow going, however, as my Google-fu has proven pathetic in the last hour or so.

I realize this is probably expecting a lot, but I only have an hour before the library closes, so I would either need an answer before then or I can possibly be on tomorrow around this time. Thanks so much for any help.

- Leone

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Two Transgender Members Quit HRC Business Council Over ENDA

Thu, 29 Nov 2007 20:54:00 GMT

Posted by: biirtha.livejournal.com

On Tuesday, November 27, two transgender members of the Human Rights Campaign’s Business Council quit over HRC’s support for the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) which excluded transgender workers. The two members cited HRC’s support for the non-inclusive ENDA and what they called HRC’s “lack of credibility” with the transgender community. Although HRC continues to advocate for a trans-inclusive ENDA in the future, it broke with many other LGBT advocacy organizations in making a strategic decision to support ENDA this session, even without transgender protections. To read more about the situation read an article in the Advocate: http://www.advocate.com/news_detail_ektid50691.asp

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Looking for personal accounts and news stories

Tue, 29 May 2007 09:26:00 GMT

Posted by: kengr

I got a reply to the email I sent the reporter who did that atrocious story about the Kent Sate bathrooms a week or so back.

He suggested that incidents I'df mentioned were "urban legends". I replied that I was referring to info posted by the person they'd happened to.

But it's occurred to me that it would help to be able to cite real news stories (for example the ones about the trans-woman in NYC who was beaten up in the McDonald's restroom and then charged with attacking the guy who'd beaten her up).

So I'm looking for links to news stories about people being hassled for using the wrong bathroom as well as any personal accounts folks are willing to have linked.

And if someone recalls which LJ community a transwoman from Portland, OR posted about getting Mall security called on her I'd like that too. It was sometime in the last month or two

I'm hoping to ram this reporter's prejudices down his throat

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another awkward family moment in the life of bleedingspade

Mon, 13 Mar 2006 08:03:00 GMT

Posted by: bleedingspade.livejournal.com

I am bisexual. ok? cool.

I went for a walk downtown once again but with my annoyingly straight closeminded brother. As we walked a TransGirl walked by. I was oogling and drooling. She was hot! So i stupidly said out loud.

"Totally bang her..."

Brother looked at me and said.

"You fucking freak, you'd band a dude in a dress."

"No...I'd bang a girl in a dress." I was attempting to point out that I saw a female. But instead I out myself.

"So you'd fuck a firl, now that means ur gay?"

"What? Am not!"

" yea you are, carpet muncher."

ACK! I hate him!!!
Well good thing I said nothing about if i had a dick I'd bang his girlfriend too lol.

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Wonderful Ally Moment

Fri, 03 Feb 2006 23:01:00 GMT

Posted by: nodesignation.livejournal.com

Yesterday I had the most wonderful ally moment, I wanted to share it with all of you. I work at a tutoring center, and one of the other tutors came in and was trying to solve a sudoku puzzle. He knew that I do them now and then as well said "I've working on this all day, do you want to take a look at it?" and handed it to me. After looking at it for a few moments, one of the students sitting nearby said something. I don't remember exactly what she said but it was something like "I could never do those, it must be a male thing."

I stopped for about 5-10 seconds as I just tried to figure out what I could say to that. I'm out to some people at work, but mostly the people who get it to some degree. The fact that she said that kinda shows she doesn't really get it, and I didn't really think I wanted to come out to her. Anything I would have said would only have drawn more attention to everything, so I just gave up and decided not to say anything.

Just after I gave up, one of the other tutors chimed in and said to me, "That's interesting. So Tobi, do you find other girls do sudoku puzzles too? Because, I mean, you're a girl and you do sudoku puzzles." It was a great response and better than anything I could have said in the situation. I am so happy to work with such a great coworker.

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Tue, 31 Jan 2006 14:53:00 GMT

Posted by: faeriedebutante.livejournal.com

Alright, so we're standing around the microwave in the vending machine room at school (highschool) and my friend Jami is cooking some ramen noodles. She finishes and we make a path for some guy to go through and zap his hoagie. On his way to the microwave he looks like someone just ran over his dog an hour ago. like he's going to cry or something. My friend Crystal asks him "what's wrong? you look so sad"

"I don't like faggots"

you would think I would be used to this by now, being the only trans girl in a school of about 200 students, yet I was more or less speechless for a while after he said that. but then, soon his hoagie finished getting nuked and he had to come back through the pack of girls again. I chose then to make a statement.

"who here likes girls?"

the four girls surrounding him all raised their hands, myself included. I figure I'll bring it to his attention how unacceptable his bigotry is, and make him uncomfortable in the process.

he didn't raise his hand.

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Transgender policies for various places.

Tue, 17 Jan 2006 14:37:00 GMT

Posted by: stacis-leak.livejournal.com

Eddie Izzard said it was all about confidence but since I dant have any I'm basically polling for any advice on two things:

1) getting a female haircut

2) buying clothes/using fitting rooms in the ladieswear department.

Keeping in mind that I probably won't be passing as female at the time, (due mostly to my sheer inability to currently do so, coupled with shyness and fear of failure)

Specifically I'm wondering if anyone has had trouble with women's salons and stores like Evans (where I saw these gorgeous jeans that I just have to have).

Basically I want to look my best at a music convention coming up, where I will be trying to pass, and I think I'm going to need all the help I can get.

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Thu, 12 Jan 2006 20:43:00 GMT

Posted by: biofucked.livejournal.com

Alas, I have had my first ever bout of transphobia.
Maybe not phobia, but harrassment.
A good friend of mine called me an "it" today, and it really hurt.

Any words of encouragement?

-Eastyn

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Thanks. buddy.

Mon, 02 Jan 2006 07:13:00 GMT

Posted by: moogiewoogie.livejournal.com

On the way back from a friend's house, I was going to a convenience store to get some change. I had to get it so that I could ride the bus today, and the way things were, I didn't have enough to make it.

I walked in. There was a guy standing in the middle of the floor eating Combos. I went to the ATM, and that's when he said it.

"I think that's a guy, but I'm not sure. What is it?" The attendant had a shocked look on her face. There were many times that I'd stay there and talk with her late. She and I are what you could call acquaintances, and she was in disbelief that he would say that sort of thing about me when I was less than five feet from him. "That's a girl. Hey, how are you girl?!" She looked at me like a deer looks at the front end of a speeding Buick.

I was also dumbfounded. I held a casual conversation while the guy sat there, eating his Combos and muttering to himself. I was a mix of every emotion in the book, whether that's anger, sadness, despair, and happiness, since I spent the night watching a movie with my new friend. I got two sodas and all the change I would need. After doing that, I went outside and drove away. As I was driving down the hill, a thousand thoughts went through my mind in a blur. I should've said something back...said something...anything! But I didn't. I just...I just played it off and walked away, like a scared, scared little rat.

I came home and sat down in the dark. The wind was whipping outside, and I started listening to music and writing poetry. I couldn't sleep for another four hours. I ran the gamut of every emotion once more, and eventually fell asleep while the Moonlight Sonata played, tears on my cheeks and a grimace on my face.

Whoever you are, stranger, thank you for being an insensitive jerk.

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Seeking info

Sun, 01 Jan 2006 21:16:00 GMT

Posted by: ottermama.livejournal.com

Can anyone recommend a good place to start in looking into the anti-discrimination policies for the area they live in? A friend of mine recently encouraged me to look into this based on some experiences she's had... and it sounds like a really good idea.

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