Trans HealthCare Survey
Trans Suicide Prevention
Trans-Friendly 
MA DPH Supports Trans Civil Rights
The Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) has issued a report on the health of LGBT persons that directly supports the effort currently underway to pass statewide protections for transgender civil rights. ”The Health of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) Persons in Massachusetts, A survey of health issues comparing LGBT persons with their heterosexual and non‐transgender counterparts,” observes that “transgender persons still face major barriers with respect to employment non-discrimination, public accommodations and gender social acceptance” and “Support of non-discrimination protection for transgender persons could help reduce stigma and by extension, improve health.”
Boston Globe supports Trans civil rights
The Boston Globe has published an editorial calling for the passage of “An Act Relative to Gender-Based Discrimination and Hate Crimes.” Titled “Another Front for Fairness,” the editorial states, “The bill responds sensibly to a real problem, and deserves to pass.”
H1728 Testimony Video: Jennifer Levi, Esq.
Jennifer Levi, director of GLAD’s Transgender Rights Project, testifies in support of H1728, “An Act Relative to Gender-Based Discrimination and Hate Crimes,” before the Massachusetts state Joint Committee on the Judiciary, and responds to questions from members of the Judiciary Committee.
H1728 Testimony Video: Rep. Carl Sciortino
Rep. Carl Sciortino introduces “An Act Relative to Gender-Based Discrimination and Hate Crimes” before the Massachusetts state Joint Committee on the Judiciary in inspiring fashion, drawing applause – and a rebuke.
H1728 Hearing Coverage
This past Tuesday, July 14, the Joint Committee on the Judiciary hearing on “An Act Relative to Gender-Based Discrimination and Hate Crimes” once again ran late, finishing at 10:30pm on Tuesday evening, despite a strictly enforced time limit of 2-3 minutes on testimony. 
An exception was granted to Jennifer Levi, who responded in inspiring fashion to extensive questioning from the committee. Rep. Carl Sciortino’s impassioned introduction of the legislation received an extended ovation from the audience – and a reprimand from the bench. As expected, there was much heartfelt testimony in support spanning a broad range of experience and concerns. Here are some of the reports about the hearing:
GLAD YouTube video of the press conference prior to the hearing:
Bay Windows: Lawmakers raise concerns about locker rooms at trans rights hearing
Edge Boston: Mass. lawmakers debate transgender rights bill
Jennifer Levi’s blog: Saving All Our Children: Reflections on the MA Transgender Rights Bill Hearing
Hearing Photos by Jesse Begenyi
MTPC, in collaboration with GenderVision, will begin releasing Gordene MacKenzie’s video of the testimony as soon as possible.
Transgender People Are Under Attack – Help Stop the Lies – Action Needed
We are hard at work, running a grassroots campaign in support of
transgender equality. Meanwhile our opponents are spending thousands of dollars to spread lies and propagate fear about a bill that would quite simply protect everyone.
So, what are they saying?
Listen to the lies HERE.
What are we going to do next?
We are going to continue with an aggressive grassroots campaign,
asking our supporters to contact their legislators in support of the
bill.
We need your help calling our supporters. Please phone bank!
Please sign up for a phonebank in support of transgender equality next week. MTPC is working with MassEquality to do phonebanking, we need to generate phone calls legislaslators from constiuents that support civil rights and equality for transgender people.
To sign up for the Tuesday 7/7/09 phonebank, click HERE
To sign up for the Thursday 7/9/09 phonebank, click HERE
Phonebanking will be happening during the day and evening shifts.
Anyone that signs up for a 3 hour shift Tues of Thurs Night between 5 pm and 9 pm will receive dinner.
If you can’t come into our office in Boston for a phonebank, you can make calls from home.
Go to http://www.MassEquality.org/ phone to sign up for the phone from home program. All you need is a computer with high-speed internet and a phone. Once your account is approved you will have access to all of our training materials and someone from our staff will be in touch to help you log in. If you have any questions please call Ryan Brown at 617-878-2309 at MassEquality or Gunner at 617-778-0519 at MTPC.
Please sign up today. With your help we can stop the lies and pass this important legislation.