Healthcare Access Survey
Trans Suicide Prevention
Gender Marker 
MTPC Launches Community Feedback Survey and Transgender Community Town Hall Meetings
Massachusetts Transgender Political Coalition (MTPC) is circulating their bi-annual community feedback survey and conducting a series of community town hall meetings across the state this spring. MTPC last conducted this survey in 2009 and conducted community town hall meetings in 2010. With the needs of the community changing, especially with the passing of transgender rights in employment, housing, credit, and public education, MTPC is looking for input on the priorities of transgender youth, adults, and families for the coming year.
“MTPC’s community feedback survey and town hall meetings are critical for understanding what issues still face the transgender community so that strategies, programs, and plans can be developed to affect positive change for community members across the state,” said Gunner Scott, executive director.
The community feedback survey is anonymous and confidential and can be taken online at https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/MTPC2012 or a paper survey can be mailed to anyone by calling 617-778-0519.
The community feedback survey asks transgender constituents and allies what issues they feel MTPC should be tackling, such as, improving access to health care and employment as well as if we should be providing training for employers, organizations, and schools. The survey is also asks constituents what kinds of workshops and community events they would like to attend in an effort to provide resources for individuals, create spaces that are affirming, and ways to build and strengthen the transgender community.
Currently, MTPC town hall meetings are scheduled in Worcester on Thursday, April 26th from 6p-8p at AIDS Project Worcester, Inc. at 85 Green Street; in Boston on Monday, April 30th from 6:30p – 8:30p at 14 Beacon St; in Salem on Thursday, May 3rd from 6:30p – 8:30p at Universalist Church of Salem at 211 Bridge Street; and Provincetown on Sunday, April 22nd with the location and time to be determined. MTPC also plans to hold town hall meetings in Western Mass and other parts of the state this summer.
In 2010 MTPC’s community town hall meetings had focused on engaging more citizens in advocating for the Transgender Equal Rights bill. This year, the meetings will be focusing on what the passage of the bill means and what to do moving forward on advocating for public accommodations protections in 2013 and learning about the issues transgender youth and adults continue to face across the state.
MTPC’s previous community survey conducted in 2009 indicated issues constituents felt the organization should prioritize in addition to gender identity non-discrimination legislation. Through the 120 surveys conducted MTPC was able to gather that 42% of respondents wanted to see an improvement in health care access for transgender people and 36% said that they wanted to see an improvement in employment access.
MTPC is looking for honest feedback from the survey and at the town hall meetings about how effective the organization is; how well MTPC is serving the community and what MTPC can do to advocate on behalf of transgender youth, adults, and their families. The responses will be used to improve MTPC and our work within and for the transgender communities in Massachusetts. For more information visit http://www.masstpc.org or call 617-778-0519.
Looking for members for MTPC’s new committees
Interfaith Committee for Transgender Equality (ICTE)
Community Meeting Monday, April 23rd 6:30-8:30 pm
MTPC has exciting news for our community members who are also people of faith. The Interfaith Coalition for Transgender Equality (ICTE) is becoming a project of MTPC, and will be renamed Interfaith Committee for Transgender Equality. MTPC Steering Committee member Mycroft Masada Holmes will continue to chair ICTE, and can be reached at Mycroft@MassTPC.org. ICTE will continue its blog (moving to MTPC’s website and linking to our former blog as an archive) and Facebook group (with a slight name change), and will be adding a Twitter. Both groups are excited about the potential for this new phase of our relationship.
To celebrate the successful faith campaign for the Transgender Equal Rights Bill, share our ideas for this year and hear yours, ICTE will be having a community gathering on Monday, April 23rd from 6:30 to 8:30 in Boston at 14 Beacon St – 1st floor conference room. We will also be holding a community conference call on Tuesday, May 1st.
We look forward to your continued partnership in our work for transgender social justice and transgender welcome and inclusion in faith communities.
Presents
A Gender Discussion Group: By & For People of Color
A bi-monthly discussion group sponsored By Kaleidoscope & MTPC
Starting Tues, April 24, 2012 at 7:30p – 9:00p
Location: 14 Beacon St, Boston, MA – 1 st floor conference room
near Park St. and Downtown Crossing T stations
For more information contact Maxwell@masstpc.org or call 617-778-0519
MTPC’s Executive Director is First Open Transgender Person Elected to Eastern Bank Board of Corporators
The Massachusetts Transgender Political Coalition is pleased to announce that Gunner Scott, executive director of MTPC, has been elected to the Board of Corporators of Eastern Bank. Mr. Scott was elected at the Eastern Bank annual meeting on March 5, 2012 and his term is for 10 years. Mr. Scott has been the executive director of MTPC since 2008, is a founding member, and is a nationally recognized activist, educator, and community organizer on Transgender Rights, LGBT health issues, and LGBT partner abuse. In 2011, after 5-year campaign, the Massachusetts legislature passed the Transgender Equal Rights bill; this legislative campaign was lead by MTPC under the direction of Gunner Scott.
“Eastern Bank has been a corporate leader on advocating for the transgender equal rights bill and has been actively working to be a welcoming institution to the transgender community and I am excited to be given the opportunity to participate with Eastern Bank this way, ” said Gunner Scott.
“Having an openly identified transgender man elected to their board and representing our interests creates a great opportunity for both the transgender community and Eastern Bank,” said Nancy Nangeroni, chair of MTPC steering committee.
Mr. Scott holds a BA in Liberal Arts from Goddard College, where he completed an oral history project titled “Boston Area Transgender Community Leaders and the ENDA Crisis.” He has written articles for Bay Windows newspaper, What’s Up magazine, Sojourner Women’s Forum, “Agitate and Activate”, the introduction to Pinned Down by Pronouns, a 2003 Lambda Literary nominee anthology published by Conviction Books, and is a co-author on the study and forthcoming article in the American Journal of Public Health entitled “Transgender Health in Massachusetts: Results From a Household Probability Sample of Adults.”
Eastern Bank was founded in 1818 and based in Boston, Eastern Bank is the largest independent and mutually owned bank in New England, with $7.6 billion in assets and more than 90 branches serving communities from the Merrimack Valley to Cape Cod.
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Founded in 2001, the Massachusetts Transgender Political Coalition (MTPC) is a 501(c) 3 that works to end discrimination on the basis of gender identity and gender expression. MTPC educates the public, advocates with state, local, and federal government, engages in political activism, and encourages empowerment of community members through collective action.
MTPC March E-Newsletter
Click Here to Read MTPC’s March 2012 E-News and Events
Highlights include:
Announcing Lawyers for Trans Rights Keynote and 2012 Trans Ally Award Recipient:
Massachusetts House Speaker Robert DeLeo
Also:
MTPC 2012 Community Survey
MTPC Town Hall Meetings Schedule
Gender Discussion Group for POC
MTPC Announces Our 2012 Community Survey
Massachusetts Transgender Political Coalition (MTPC) will be circulating our bi-annual community survey. MTPC last conducted this survey in 2009, and the needs of the community are changing, especially with the passing of Transgender Rights in employment, housing, credit, and public education.
The purpose of this survey is to find out the community’s needs and where the community believes our work should be focused. In general, we are looking for honest feedback about how MTPC is doing, what we are doing well and what we could do more or less of. If you find that this survey does not address a certain need you find important, please contact MTPC directly. The survey is completely anonymous and confidential. The responses will be used in such a manner that will improve MTPC and our work within and for the transgender communities in Massachusetts.
Click Here to Take Our Survey
MTPC’s former co-chair to be appointed Newton Human Rights Commission
Photo By Kristin Laurel Caffray
The Massachusetts Transgender Political Coalition is pleased to announce that Holly Ryan, a former chair of MTPC, has been appointed to the Newton Human Rights Commission by Mayor Setti Warren. Ms. Ryan was approved by the full board of Aldermen on February 21, 2012 and her term is for three years. Ms. Ryan is a life-long resident of Newton and product of the Newton School System, as was her 23-year-old daughter and her 16-year-old son who presently attends Newton South High School.
“This is an important step for the transgender community to have openly identified transgender woman appointed to a city commission. This shows that society is changing and because of that, we all benefit when citizen’s like Ms. Ryan are given the opportunity to participate in her community this way,” said Gunner Scott, executive director.
In her professional capacity, she is the Director of Purchasing and Food Service for the Middlesex Human Service Agency, a non-profit multi service organization caring for the homeless and helping those with substance abuse located in Waltham. She has been with the agency for 16 years and transitioned on the job early in her career.
Ms. Ryan served as a chair of the MTPC steering committee from 2005 until 2008 and has been an advocate, trainer and consultant for the Boston area transgender community for the past twenty years. Ms. Ryan’ work includes having been a consultant and trainer for the Trans Health and Education Development Program of JRI Health in 2000, a current member of the Massachusetts Department of Public Health’s Bureau of Substance Abuse Services LGBTQ Advisory Board, a board member of Bay State Stonewall Democrats, and an elected member of the Massachusetts Democratic State Committee.
“This will give me another opportunity to be engaged with my neighbors on issues of diversity in my city and to also be able to educate my community on the issues transgender people face,” said Holly Ryan.
The Newton Human Rights Commission (HRC) was established by the City of Newton to assure mutual understanding and respect among all persons in the City by promoting acceptance of diversity and combating discrimination. This volunteer board, whose members are appointed by the mayor, identifies and addresses issues of prejudice within the City and organizes programs for community education on human rights matters.
Join MTPC at Mass NOW’s I Heart Equal Rights
Tuesday, February 28, 2012 – 8:00pm
The Beehive, 541 Tremont St., Boston, MA 02116
Please join Mass. NOW and the young, active feminist community in Boston for I Heart Equal Rights, a fundraising event for the Massachusetts Chapter of the National Organization for Women. The event will honor Gunner Scott, Executive Director of the Massachusetts Transgender Political Coalition and nationally recognized activist, educator, and community organizer, in celebration of the landmark transgender equal rights bill that was just passed in Massachusetts. Help us continue to fight for a better Massachusetts for future generations by joining us for light refreshments and a silent auction!
Tickets:$30 for one, $50 for two
Visit IHeartEqualRights.eventbrite.com to purchase tickets!
Launched! I AM: Trans People Speak COMMUNITY
I AM: Trans People Speak COMMUNITY
Please check out the new website and new videos!
“I AM: Trans People Speak COMMUNITY” project, the purpose of this multi-media campaign to create an empowering space on the web for transgender people, and their allies from around the country, in which they can share their experiences through their own stories, in order to educate the public and give hope to transgender youth and adults just starting to come out.
Join MTPC for “Have a Heart: Help End Unaccompanied Youth Homelessness” Call-in Day to House Ways and Means on Valentine’s Day!
Happy Valentine’s Day from MTPC
Please join us today for our “Have a Heart: Help End Unaccompanied Youth Homelessness” call-in day to the House of Representatives Committee on Ways and Means (“House Ways and Means”)!
We are asking you to take a few minutes on Valentine’s Day to call House Ways and Means to express your strong support for House Bill 3838: An Act Providing Housing and Support Services for Unaccompanied Homeless Youth.
MTPC is a member of a Coalition with the Massachusetts Coalition for the Homeless that has been leading the advocacy efforts to pass House Bill 3838. If passed, this bill would provide funding for housing and services for unaccompanied youth, including transgender and lesbian, gay, and bisexual youth, who are experiencing homelessness and also would create a special commission to examine unaccompanied youth homelessness and make recommendations for actions to end youth homelessness.
According to the Center for American Progress Study on Gay and Transgender Homeless Youth:
“1.6 million to 2.8 million: The estimated number of homeless youth in the United States.
20 to 40 percent: The portion of the homeless youth population who are gay or transgender, compared to only 5 to 10 percent of the overall youth population.”
We are very excited that the bill was referred to House Ways and Means in December, and now are eager to do all we can so that the Committee can report out the bill favorably. You can help ensure that this happens by calling House Ways and Means at 617-722-2380 on Valentine’s Day to express your strong support for House Bill 3838!
To see if your Representative is on the House Ways and Means Committee, please click here. If so, please contact your Representative as well.
“Hi, my name is ______________________. * I am calling to strongly urge Chairman Dempsey and the House Ways and Means Committee to give a favorable report to House Bill 3838, An Act Providing Housing and Support Services for Unaccompanied Homeless Youth.
It is vital for House Ways and Means to swiftly pass House Bill 3838 because:
- The bill would increase housing options and holistic support services for the thousands of unaccompanied youth and young adults ages 14-22, including LGBT youth, who are experiencing homelessness across Massachusetts.
- The bill also would establish a special commission made up of key stakeholders that will focus on improving access to housing and services for unaccompanied youth.
Now is the time for the Commonwealth to take action to end unaccompanied youth homelessness. House Bill 3838 will provide a much needed investment of time and resources to move towards this goal. Thank you!”