Massachusetts Senate passes transgender rights bill by a landslide
Today, the Massachusetts Senate voted by a landslide (33-4) to pass a bill protecting transgender people’s access to affirming public accommodations – like bathrooms. It is likely to pass the House and be signed by the governor.
In doing so, the lawmakers diverged from several legislatures in other states this year that have advanced bills to curtail transgender people’s restroom access.
Democrats argued the legislation advanced basic civil rights for transgender people, blocking several amendments from Republicans that would have weakened the legislation.
“It is our responsibility to advance these provisions when there is clearly evidence that transgender people can and are being discriminated against,” Senate President Stanley Rosenberg, a Democrat, told BuzzFeed News before the vote.
Yessssss. Do it, Massachusetts. Show the rest of us how it’s done.
