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MA State Legislation |
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About the Legislation How You Can Help Stories |
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February 9, 2009
Declaration of Women's Organizations Supporting
Stop Scare Tactics in Our Name We, the undersigned, unite in our support of "An Act Relative to Gender-Based Discrimination and Hate Crimes," (H.1728/S.1687). We call on our legislators to pass this bill, which will add the category "gender identity or expression" to existing Massachusetts hate crime laws and to non-discrimination laws that protect people from unequal treatment in employment, housing, credit, public accommodations, and public education. This legislation will affirm the right of all Massachusetts citizens to live with dignity and respect, free from discrimination and violence. As organizations committed to advancing the rights and protecting the health and safety of women and children throughout the Commonwealth, we are called to stand for justice for all people subject to gender-based discrimination, harassment, or violence. No person deserves to be fired, refused work, denied housing, education or credit, or to live in fear of violence because of his or her gender. Collectively, we have worked for decades with thousands of Massachusetts women and children, from Boston to Springfield, from Haverhill to Pittsfield. We know the day-to-day reality of women's lives. Opposing this bill does nothing to benefit or protect women and children. By suggesting that this legislation makes bathrooms unsafe for women and children, opponents of transgender equality spread dangerous myths about assault and divert attention from the facts: the vast majority of sexual assaults are committed in the home, by relatives or acquaintances, and the law provides no safe harbor for criminal activity, wherever it occurs. It is offensive that opponents of this bill would use unfounded threats to scare women and those who care about our safety into opposing legislation that will protect others from real gender-based discrimination and violence. These scare tactics are a dangerous diversion from the real sources of discrimination and violence that women face every day. We reject the use of fear-mongering in our name as a political tool, and urge all legislators who truly care about women and gender-based violence to support "An Act Relative to Gender-Based Discrimination and Hate Crimes." Signatories
Mass. NOW
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