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MTPC Appoints First-Ever Director

MASSACHUSETTS TRANSGENDER POLITICAL COALITION NAMES
GUNNER SCOTT DIRECTOR, AMASSES HISTORIC FINANCIAL SUPPORT

Holly Ryan Named MTPC Chair, Urges supporters to contribute and work toward passage of legislation providing full equality for all in Massachusetts

BOSTON, Jan. 10, 2008 – Massachusetts Transgender Political Coalition (MTPC) is gearing up for its most significant work to date –securing passage of HB1722, “An Act Relative to Gender-based Discrimination and Hate Crimes,” the proposed statewide legislation that would add gender identity and gender expression to existing laws regarding hate crimes and discrimination in employment, housing, credit, public accommodations and public education.

Preparing for its highest-yield initiative yet, MTPC appointed its first Director, veteran social justice activist Gunner Scott, a founding member and the first paid employee in this formerly all-volunteer organization. MTPC simultaneously named Holly Ryan as Chair. Holly will continue in her volunteer capacity at MTPC’s helm. She and Scott were previously Co-Chairs. The appointments are effective Monday, Jan. 14.

MTPC is buttressed by milestone grants, including a $25,000 Civic Engagement Grant from Boston Foundation and $25,000 total in four phases from Human Rights Campaign Foundation (HRC), including $10,000 immediately as a challenge grant to urge other organizations to follow suit. Other contributions are being made by MTPC’s legislative partners MassEquality, Massachusetts Lesbian and Gay Bar Association (MLGBA), Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders (GLAD) and AIDS Action Committee of Massachusetts, Inc. (AAC).

“The fight for transgender equality is the next frontier in our struggle for full equality in Massachusetts. MassEquality is excited to be working hand-in-hand with Gunner and MTPC to pass this vital legislation to protect transgender people from discrimination and violence,” said MassEquality Campaign Director Marc Solomon.

“Boston Foundation and HRC both told us that they recognize our all-volunteer work as extremely professional and important, and they want to fortify our efforts to bring the Commonwealth closer to full equality by adding gender identity and gender expression into our existing anti-discrimination laws,” said Holly Ryan, Chair, MTPC.

“MTPC will do great work under the leadership of Gunner Scott and Holly Ryan. We look forward to partnering with them to advance and protect the rights of transgender people in Massachusetts,” said Lee Swislow, Executive Director of Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders (GLAD).

“Gunner’s track record as a catalyst and deliverer of real change in Massachusetts make him an ideal choice as Director, and his new ability to dedicate more of his time, energy and expertise to our work is timely, needed and valuable,” Ryan said.

For nearly a decade, Scott has been a nationally recognized trainer, educator and community organizer on LGBT social justice, LGBT partner abuse and transgender systemic healthcare access issues. He also created www.GenderCrash.com and Gender Crash, a renowned monthly open mic event designed for queer and transgender performers now in its eighth year. He was Director of Organizing and Education of The Network/La Red for six years through 2006 and for the past year was Training Specialist at Health Care of Southeastern Massachusetts, Inc., which he left to accept his new position with MTPC.

A published author, Scott has written articles for “What’s Up” magazine, Sojourner Women’s Forum and “Agitate and Activate,” the introduction to “Pinned Down by Pronouns,” a 2003 Lambda Literary nominee anthology published by Conviction Books. He was a contributing editor to “Responding to Hate Crimes: A Community Resource Manual,” published by The National Center for Transgender Equality (NCTE) and the “Gender Identity and Sexual Orientation” chapter of the 2005 edition of “Our Bodies, Ourselves.”

As an MTPC leader, Scott played a pivotal leading role in securing gender identity and gender expression inclusion in Boston’s anti-discrimination ordinances in 2002. In 2005, MTPC’s Western Mass. Chapter and leaders there also achieved similar success. Scott is a member of NCTE’s National Board of Advisors and a Commissioner on the Massachusetts Commission for GLBT Youth. He currently attends Goddard College.

“We at HRC are extremely pleased to be partnering with MTPC to support education and lobbying activities to pass this important bill, and we have also answered their specific request to have direct involvement by our Deputy Field Director Jeremy Pittman, a Massachusetts native who has been a long-time champion for trans inclusion in full equality – here at HRC, at MassEquality before that and as a leader of the former Massachusetts LGBT Political Alliance. MTPC knows Jeremy; they wanted Jeremy, and he’s with them every step of the way,” said HRC Field Director, Marty Rouse.

“I’m excited about being able to dedicate myself full-time to this important legislation co-sponsored by Reps. Carl Sciortino and Byron Rushing, which will truly make positive change in people’s lives, including my own,” said Scott.

“While I’ve been able to bring previous important changes to the fore, this work today, getting HB1722 passed, is paramount for all people in Massachusetts whose gender identity or gender expression differs from what’s expected. There is no better state than Massachusetts in which to call for and achieve full equality,” he added. Scott said that MTPC expects for public hearings to convene at the State House for HB 1722 in the first quarter of 2008.

“MLGBA congratulates MTPC on this exciting and important step in the organization’s evolution,” said Laura Langley, a member of the board of directors of the Massachusetts Lesbian and Gay Bar Association and Chair of MLGBA’s Committee on Transgender Inclusion. “Achieving legal equality for transgender people is a human rights imperative, and MLGBA will continue to work with MTPC to ensure that this vision of equality becomes a reality for all in our Commonwealth,” Langley added.

“The struggle for social justice in the Commonwealth and in the country is part of our daily work for our clients and the state’s residents,” said Rebecca Haag, Executive Director, AIDS Action Committee of Massachusetts. “We are delighted to provide to MTPC our expertise and direct involvement regarding policy advocacy and strategic communications.”

MTPC has more than 70 partners, including those already named as well as Mass Gay and Lesbian Political Caucus, ACLU of Massachusetts, BAGLY, Keshet, Massachusetts Chapter of the National Organization for Women (NOW), GALLAN and SEIU Local 509.

MTPC will maintain its eight-person Steering Committee structure under Ryan’s stewardship, and it will continue to be sponsored fiscally by Boston Alliance for Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Youth (BAGLY), where Scott will be based.

People interested in supporting MTPC financially or by submitting written testimony for HB 1722 can do so by visiting http://www.masstpc.org.

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    posted Jan 10, 04:14 PM

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