Trans HealthCare Survey
Trans Suicide Prevention
Trans-Friendly 
Want to Make a Difference? Intern with MTPC!
The Massachusetts Transgender Political Coalition (MTPC) internship program gives high school, college students, or any community member the opportunity to advance professionally and/or academically by learning about, and working in, a small non-profit that focuses on transgender civil rights, non-discrimination on the basis of gender identity and gender expression, and political advocacy.
We do ask that potential student or community interns have a strong interest in transgender rights, social justice, economic justice, public policy, and/or LGBT rights. You do not need to be enrolled in school to be an intern. An internship is a great opportunity to build a resume with job experience.
Currently, we are looking for those with interest or background in the following areas:
• Legislative and Public Policy;
• Special Event Planning;
• Video/Educational Media;
• Trans Youth Summit Coordinator
To apply for an MTPC internship go to:
http://www.masstpc.org/about/internship.shtml or call 617-778-0519 to have an application emailed, faxed or mailed to you. All internships are UNPAID.
MTPC Special Event: Meet and Greet with Kim Pearson of TransYouth Family Allies (TYFA)
Wednesday, September 1, 2010 at 6-8p at 14 Beacon St, Boston, MA, 02108 – 1st floor conference room
Just in time for back to school – come hear from TYFA’s Executive Director Kim Pearson about the state of Trans Families all across the country and the work of TYFA.
Kim Pearson is Executive Director/Co-Founder of TransYouth Family Allies (TYFA) and National Board President of PFLAG-TNET. She first directed her energy into GLBT support, advocacy and education as the
founder and president of her local PFLAG Chapter when the youngest of her three children came out as lesbian in 2005. Eighteen months later she found herself facilitating that same child’s transition to living life as a young man.
About TYFA: TYFA empowers children and families by partnering with educators, service providers and communities, to develop supportive environments in which gender may be expressed and respected. We
envision a society free of suicide and violence in which ALL children are respected and celebrated. For more info on TYFA visit http://www.imatyfa.org/
Space is limited. Please RSVP at info@masstpc.org or by calling 617-778-0519, Visit http://www.masstpc.org for more info.
We will not stop
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 02, 2010
Contact: Nancy Nangeroni, MTPC Steering Comm. Chair, nancy@masstpc.org, 978-969-2346
Boston, MA [08.02.10]: The Massachusetts Transgender Political Coalition (MTPC) is commenting on the status of their bill (H1728/S1687), The Transgender Civil Rights Bill.
MTPC is extremely disappointed that the Transgender Civil Rights Bill did not make it to the floor for a vote this legislative session. This happened despite a lot of hard and brave work by our community and allies on behalf of the bill.
We are celebrating all we have accomplished this legislative session. We won 104 co-sponsors, drew consistent numbers of transgender folks and allies to lobby days and press conferences, and successfully shifted media attention to focus on this bill for what it is — a civil rights bill.
The urgent need for passage of this bill remains and we will be re-filing. In the upcoming months we will be evaluating this past legislative session and holding town hall meetings to discuss what we must do to increase our educational efforts as an organization and as a community. We remain determined to get this bill passed and see to it that trans people and their families are valued, not devalued. We will be launching new public education campaigns, reconnecting with each of our co-sponsors, and working hard to win even more legislative support.
MTPC thanks all those who gave their time and effort to move the bill this past legislative session. We look forward to working with everyone again during the next session.
Gunner Scott, Executive Director of MTPC says, “This marathon is not over and we will not stop until we cross the finish line a winner.”
Nancy Nangeroni, Chair of MTPC Steering Committee says, “The majority of our legislators and the voting public support Transgender Civil Rights. This will happen; the only question is when.”
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The Massachusetts Transgender Political Coalition (MTPC) is dedicated to ending discrimination on the basis of gender identity and gender expression. We envision a world where persons of all genders are treated with respect and fully participate in all areas of society, free from fear of prohibition, harassment or violence based on their gender identity and/or expression. To that end we educate the public, advocate with state, local, and federal government, engage in political activism, and encourage empowerment of community members through collective action. For more information, please visit www.MassTPC.org
Not the End for the Fight for Trans Rights
Like you, I am frustrated and disappointed that H1728/S1687 – The Trans Civil Rights Bill – did not make it to the floor for a vote this session. This happened not because we as a community did not do a lot of
hard and brave work. Many of you took time off from work or school to come to our lobby days and press conferences; met with legislators and came out about your lives and your families; and when MTPC asked
you picked the phone and called your legislators or wrote them a letter.
As I have been working on this bill, I’ve been told quite often by seasoned allies, “This is a marathon, not a sprint and the continued education work the community does will get us to the finish line, a winner.”
We can take pride in our achievements this legislative season: winning 104 co-sponsors; drawing consistent numbers of transgender folks and our allies to lobby days and press conferences; and successfully shifting the media message to focus on this as a civil rights bill.
Do we still have a mountain of work to do – Yes.
Do we need to keep showing up – Yes.
Do we still need to educate legislators, candidates, and the general public – Yes.
Are we going to do this – Yes!
Over the coming months MTPC will be crossing the state holding a series of town hall meetings to talk about what happened, lessons learned, and what we can do increase our educational efforts, as an organization and as a community, to get this bill passed and change the culture so that trans people and our families are valued, not devalued.
Additionally, MTPC will be rolling out a new public education campaign, the first phase will coincide with Trans Awareness Week this November. As disappointed as all of us are at MTPC about not getting the bill passed this session, we’re very excited about this new campaign, which is called, “I AM: Trans People Speak.”
But this campaign will not be a success without you, our community and allies. We will be calling on you to share your experiences of what it means to be trans or to be a partner, family member, friend, or co-worker of a trans person in Massachusetts.
How you can help:
1) Help us to identify space for town hall meetings and get the word out;
2) Continue educating people in your communities about the need for trans protections;
3) If your legislator was a co-sponsor this past session, send them a thank you note;
4) Share your experiences with us, especially for the new campaign (learn more about this at the town hall meetings and over the next few months);
5) Donate to MTPC. Please consider becoming a monthly donor at whatever level you can afford. If we can expand our monthly donor base, we can expand our campaign.
Lastly, get out and vote this fall.
Thank you for your time, energy, dedication to MTPC, and your work towards securing trans rights in Massachusetts. This marathon is not over and we will not stop until we cross the finish line a winner
Sincerely,
Gunner Scott
Executive Director
Trans Advocacy Network formed
A group of state and local transgender leaders are pleased to announce the formation of the Trans Advocacy Network. The Trans Advocacy Network held their first meeting in Memphis, Tennessee on July 10, 2010 with the purpose of defining their mission and goals for the upcoming year. Their mission statement is as follows:
“The Trans Advocacy Network is an alliance of transgender organizations that work at the state and local level, coming together to build a stronger trans movement by facilitating the sharing of resources, best practices, and organizing strategies.”
Read the rest of this entry »
Pressing for Transgender Civil Rights
By Erica L. Kaufman- MTPC Media Intern
The Massachusetts Transgender Political Coalition held a press conference at the State House on July 14th, 2010 calling on the leadership of the Massachusetts State legislature to act favorably on H1728/S1687, “An Act Relative to Gender Based Discrimination and Hate Crimes” before the end of the current session on July 31st, 2010. Close to 100 people were in attendance, including legislators, supporters, and members of the press.
Read the rest of this entry »
Gender Marker Change Kit, Passport Guidelines released
The Massachusetts Transgender Political Coalition is excited to announce the release of their Gender Marker Change Kit. MTPC previously released a Name Change Kit, which has been widely used by transgender individuals seeking to change their name. This Gender Marker Change Kit will aid transgender people who are in the process of having their gender markers changed.
MTPC’s Gender Marker Change Kit includes all the necessary forms and instructions to change one’s gender on all major legal documents: driver’s license, state i.d. card, Social Security Card, birth certificate and passport. The kit also includes detailed instructions on how to fill out the forms, what you need to include with the forms or bring in person to government office. The kit includes a sample attending physician’s letter for attaching to the forms required to change gender on birth certificates.
The Gender Marker Kit Change Kit comes at an especially important time for transgender people. Recent changes in regulations for changing gender on a passport have made changing gender markers more accessible for a larger number of transgender people. New passport regulations specifically state that surgery is not a prerequisite for changing gender markers on a passport.
Executive Director Gunner Scott stated, “We’re very excited about the release of MTPC’s new Gender Marker Change Kit. It’s important to MTPC that we help to empower the transgender community in every way possible, and this is another way to do that.”
National Coalition of Local Trans Advocacy Groups Forming
Boston, MA – [07/05/2010] – The Massachusetts Transgender Political Coalition (MTPC) is announcing the first meeting of the newly formed advisory board for a new coalition of transgender advocacy organizations, initially being called the National Coalition of State-Level Transgender Organizations. MTPC’s Executive Director, Gunner Scott, is a founding member of this newly formed national collaboration. The coalition will bring together state and city-based transgender-led advocacy organizations for the purpose of networking, organizing, sharing resources, and building grassroots advocacy.
MTPC Announces 2010-2011 Steering Committee
The Massachusetts Transgender Political Coalition is announcing the results of their 2010-2011 Steering Committee elections. The new committee will be seated on July 1st, 2010. The voting membership of MTPC who were present at the monthly meeting on Monday, June 14, 2010 took part in the elections. The results are as follows: