Tuesday, August 18, 2015

Will They Finally Do The Right Thing

In Massachusetts when they passed the trans non-discrimination law they passed it without public accommodations and they have tried to add it every year since the passed of the law. This year they are trying again.
As Beacon Hill Prepares To Consider Transgender Rights, A Study Cites Health Risks Of Discrimination
WGBH
By Mike Deehan
August 16, 2015

Massachusetts added non-discrimination language for gender identity to its laws in 2012. The state became the 16th in the country to carve out protections for transgender people in employment, housing, public education and credit access. The hate crimes laws were also updated to include gender identity among the list of protected classes.
[…]
Left out of the 2012 law was a provision to allow transgender people access to public accommodations, things like transportation settings, medical facilities - and yes, public bathrooms and locker rooms - that are traditionally segregated by gender.
[…]
One obstacle for the bill could be a business lobby wary of government mandates or new rules that could open them up to lawsuits. Retailers Association of Massachusetts President Jon Hurst said that the bill needs to be clearer about what new accommodations will be necessary and what it allows regulatory boards to do beyond the initial scope of the legislation.

Left out of the 2012 law was a provision to allow transgender people access to public accommodations, things like transportation settings, medical facilities - and yes, public bathrooms and locker rooms - that are traditionally segregated by gender.
[…]
One obstacle for the bill could be a business lobby wary of government mandates or new rules that could open them up to lawsuits. Retailers Association of Massachusetts President Jon Hurst said that the bill needs to be clearer about what new accommodations will be necessary and what it allows regulatory boards to do beyond the initial scope of the legislation.
I really don’t hold out hope that the bill will pass and if it does then the Republican governor will probably veto the bill. And if it does pass it will probably so watered down that it most likely exclude sex segregated facilities.

So place your bets, what do you think?

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