Bar groups endorse transgender rights
by Noah Schaffer, Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly
May 21, 2007
Several bar associations have announced their support for House Bill 1722, which would amend the state's anti-discrimination statute to include gender identity and expression.
The legislation would also amend the state's hate-crime laws to include penalties against perpetrators of crimes who target a person because of his or her gender identity or expression.
The bill, introduced by Rep. Carl M. Sciortino Jr., D-Medford, has received endorsements from the Massachusetts Bar Association, the Women's Bar Association of Massachusetts and the Massachusetts Lesbian & Gay Bar Association. The Boston Bar Association is considering an endorsement as well, according to Boston attorney Catherine E. Reuben.
"This has been supported by both the management and employee sides of the labor bar," said Reuben. "This is a very narrowly tailored piece of legislation -- not a huge expansion of rights. There is already caselaw that indicates that employers cannot discriminate against transgender people, but this would put that protection on the books."
Supporters say similar protections exist in nine other states and the District of Columbia.
The bill has been referred to the Joint Committee on the Judiciary, which has yet to schedule a hearing, Sciortino said.