Boston City Council passes resolution in support of Transgender Civil Rights Bill

The Boston City Council on Wednesday, March 9 unanimously passed a resolution in support of An Act Relative to Transgender Equal Rights, also known as the Transgender Civil Rights Bill.

The resolution states in part, "The City of Boston currently protects transgender youth and adults on the basis of gender identity and gender expression in the city's non-discrimination ordinance and has done so through ordinance since 2002; and Massachusetts transgender youth, adults, and their families continue to face pervasive discrimination and violence because of widespread prejudice."

City Councilor At-Large Felix G. Arroyo offered the resolution and received the support of Councilor At-Large Ayanna Pressley and Councilor At-Large John Connolly. As the resolution was discussed, the nine remaining city councilors (President At-Large Stephen Murphy, Councilor Maureen Feeney, Councilor Charles Yancey, Councilor Salvatore LaMattina, Councilor Bill Linehan, Councilor Robert Consalvo, Councilor Matt O'Malley, Councilor Michael Ross, and Councilor Mark Ciommo) requested to be included in offering the resolution, and promptly passed it unanimously.

In speaking, several councilors thanked Gunner Scott, executive director of the Massachusetts Transgender Political Coalition (MTPC), and the equal rights organization for their work on this important matter.

"I am extremely moved by the unanimous passing of this Resolution in Support of An Act Relative to Transgender Equal Rights. The continued leadership from the Boston City Council in supporting the rights of transgender youth, adults, and families, is admirable and we hope that the legislators will follow their lead and pass the Transgender Equal Rights legislation this session. Once again, we thank the Boston City Council for their support," Gunner Scott said in a press release March 9.

The resolution concludes: "The Boston City Council goes on record in support of 'An Act Relative to Transgender Equal Rights,' HB 502/SB 764, and urges the Boston delegation of the Massachusetts Legislature and the leadership of the legislature to support a timely passage of this bill."

The City Council's resolution comes weeks after Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick issued an executive order extending protections against discrimination to the state's transgender employees. In addition to all state agencies and programs, the executive order also applies to any businesses that contract with the state.