Issue Position: LGBTQ

Issue Position

No citizen should be denied the right to live in accordance with his or her sexual orientation or gender identity. I am proud of our Commonwealth's reputation for supporting the right of same-sex couples to marry, and I applaud the Supreme Court's decision to establish marriage equality nationwide. As a Commonwealth, we must do everything we can to ensure that every resident is protected equally under the law. This is why I have been an ardent supporter of legislation aimed at strengthening protections for LGBTQ community in the Massachusetts.

In 2011, my colleagues and I in the Legislature took a critical step towards protecting transgender individuals from discrimination in passing the Transgender Equal Rights Act. I was proud to vote for this landmark piece of legislation that prohibits discrimination on the basis of gender identity or expression with regard to employment, credit, education, and housing.

Despite this legislation, however, discrimination against transgender individuals has continued to persist in Massachusetts. Although several agencies have started to address compliance with the 2011 law, implementation has varied considerably between agencies. Furthermore, transgender people still do not have protections for public accommodations under the current law, meaning that a business owner could refuse to serve a transgender person or restrict bathroom access. This is why I have filed legislation that requires each executive department and agency to fully comply with the Transgender Equal Rights Act, and I am a co-sponsor of legislation that updates the 2011 law to include the right to access public spaces, regardless of gender identity.

I have also been a strong champion of funding for the LBGTQ Youth Commission that is charged with enhancing and improving the ability of state agencies to provide services that protect and support the health and safety of LGBTQ youth in the schools and communities of Massachusetts. Throughout my tenure in the Senate, I have repeatedly advocated for additional funding for the Commission, which has been critical in addressing suicide prevention and violence intervention policies regarding harassment and discrimination against LGBTQ youth. In my role as Vice Chair of Ways and Means, I will continue to advocate for this funding and legislation that ensures that all of our citizens are treated with the respect and dignity that they deserve.

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