Video from public testimony before the Massachusetts State Joint Committee on the Judiciary. The committee is considering HB 1722, "An Act Relative to Gender-Based Discrimination and Hate Crimes", which would add "gender identity or expression" to the existing list of discrimination prohibitions in employment, housing, education and credit, as well as to applicable hate crimes statutes.
Testimony: a compilation (28:29)
Testimony excerpts including (in order of appearance):
Andrea Cabral, Suffolk County Sheriff
Rep. Carl Sciortino, lead legislative co-sponsor
Rep. Byron Rushing, lead legislative co-sponsor
GLAD attorney Jennifer Levi Esq.
Alishia Ouelette, Trans Firefighter
Ethan St. Pierre, Trans FTM activist
Tom Barbera, MA AFL-CIO VP
Katherine Triantafillou Esq., former Cambridge City Councillor
Gavi Wolfe, ACLU Legislative Specialist
Don Gorton, chair, Gay & Lesbian Anti-Violence Project
Kenneth Garber, firefighter, parent of trans child
Testimony: Dr. Norman Spack (7:15) Dr. Spack is an endocrinologist at Boston Children's Hospital who provides compassionate care for children seeking treatment for transgender-related medical issues.
Testimony: Nancy Nangeroni (6:32) Nancy is a member of the Massachusetts Transgender Political Coalition steering committee, as well as co-producer and co-host of GenderVision.
Re: HB1722... I hope and pray that it is passed into law, in Mass, and every single state in the union. The bill is defining, punitive, and may be a deterrent to some, but, sadly this "protective" bill is not preventive. It is "after the fact". Our community has lost countless lives. We have been viciously brutalized, bullied, had our dignity and peace of mind denied us. I, myself am transgendered, in non-op transition to a feminine gender role at the tender age of 62. I too, fear that it could happen to me. I grieve for all in our community who have suffered indignities, or, worse, paid the ultimate price; their lives. Equally, I am extremely angered that the perpetrators of such heinous crimes against humanity largely go unpunished. As well, I am angry with the justice system who take the sides, not of the victims, but of the perpetrators. The gender variant community needs laws with real teeth in them enacted; not simply as an appeasement, but laws that will be firmly enforced. There's no space for plea bargaining. In my humble opinion, plea deals are just as bad, if not worse than the actual offense! And that's my two cents worth!
Rissa Lynn Michaels
Milton, Vermont