Beck's Cafe » Social Justice

MA Senate Passes Transgender Equal Rights Bill!!

beckscafe — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 03:08:09 +0000

Its been a LONG road but, finally, Massachusetts has a Transgender Equal Rights Bill. It has been voted in by both the Massachusetts House of Representatives and by the Senate. All it needs is a signature by the Governor of Massachusetts, Duval Patrick.

So what does this mean? A few things, all of them important. Most of these are just rights that disappeared when many transgender people, both men and women, started dealing with who they are so they live “normal” lives. But, these protections include:

Employment
Housing
Education
Credit
Expands the state’s hate crimes protections to now include transgender people

Having been someone who has experienced this kind of discrimination first hand, I can tell you, this is very welcome news! The bill is imperfect, and it does not include public accomodation, which means any public venue may decide that transgender men or women are not “welcome”. Let’s hope that society is actually beyond that kind of behavior.

Many thanks to my friends who, along with me (see our article, “Trans Civil rights Lobby Day: Roundtable” for just one example out of hundreds), worked to see passage of this bill. “BIG” thanks to Gunner Scott and the MTPC Team. They kept our community moving forward when it seemed like we’d never see our normal rights returned to us!

MA Transgender Equal Rights Bill Passes MA House 95 YES and 58 NO ~ Senate Vote Next!

beckscafe — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 10:49:35 +0000

This is incredible news and a great victory for social justice for transgender people in Massachusetts! You can read the official statement and update at MTPC’s Post “House Passes Trans Equal Rights 95-58

What’s next? Well, the MA Senate vote is today! The Senate bill is S764 “An Act Relative to Transgender Equal Rights” So please CALL or EMAIL your senator and let him or her know your desire for them to vote in favor of our bill. Here are the steps to help you:

(1) Find your MA legislator

(2) Once you do that, here are some helpful instructions on what to say, including a script, at MTPC Calling Help And for some help on what to write if you choose to email, click to the MTPC Newsletter page.

MA Transgender Equal Rights Bill Released from Committe Goes to Vote in MA House Today

beckscafe — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 14:30:38 +0000

In what can only be seen as AMAZING news, our transgender equal rights bill has been released from the judiciary committee to the MA House of Representatives floor for a VOTE. This is a historic opportunity for transgender rights.

Here’s a statement from the Massachusetts Transgender Political Coaltion on H 502/S764 “An Act Relative to Transgender Equal Rights”

In the days ahead, you may hear confusing things about this bill. To be clear, this bill provides vital protections in employment, education, housing, credit, and hate crimes which transgender residents of the Commonwealth desperately need. The bill is not perfect as it does not include public accommodations protections, but it is a solid civil rights bill that represents an historic step forward in supporting full civil rights protections for the transgender community.

Updated information will be coming from MTPC later today or you can follow them on Twitter @MassTPC or check in on their newsletter page

So what to do next? Either call or write your house of representative member today. They really must hear from us today if at all possible. You can find yours at this handy link: Find your MA legislator

Once you do that, here are some helpful instructions on what to say, including a script, at MTPC Calling Help And for some help on what to write if you choose to email, click to the MTPC Newsletter page.

This American Life Broadcast: "81 Words" how the American Psychiatric Association decided in 1973 that homosexuality was no longer a mental illness

beckscafe — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 10:00:01 +0000

This American Life, the public radio program that does in depth stories on various topics, is featuring an audio program on how the American Psychiatric Association changed its view on homosexuality in the DSM. The story is fascinating in how it tells the story of how the APA slowly made their change, how gay activists helped that move, and, mostly, how courageous APA members and interested parties actually changed the APA’s view from inside the APA itself. It wasn’t so much pressure from the outside as it was a realization from within that being gay was not a disease.

You can listen to the teaser promo here: “81 Words”

Here’s a synopsis:

Act One.

In 1973, the American Psychiatric Association (APA) declared that homosexuality was not a disease simply by changing the 81-word definition of sexual deviance in its own reference manual. It was a change that attracted a lot of attention at the time, but the story of what led up to that change is one that we hear today, from reporter Alix Spiegel. Part one of Alix’s story details the activities of a closeted group of gay psychiatrists within the APA who met in secret and called themselves the GAYPA … and another, even more secret group of gay psychiatrists among the political echelons of the APA. Alix’s own grandfather was among these psychiatrists, and the president-elect of the APA at the time of the change. (24 minutes)

Act Two.

Alix Spiegel’s story continues, with a man dressed in a Nixon mask called Dr. Anonymous, and a pivotal encounter in a Hawaiian bar. (30 minutes)

You can listen to This American Life broadcast here: “81 Words: The Story of how The American Pyschiatric Association decided in 1973 that homosexuality was no longer a mental illness“.

Gay rights bill passes in Washington State

beckscafe — Wed, 01 Feb 2006 06:36:47 +0000

Over at Scobelizer, there is a terrific, peaceful, comment debate on the Gay Rights bill in Washington State. The bill passed (see link here) but the debate on the comments section is both respectful and thought provoking, regardless of which side you are on.

Have a lookie at the link and the debate by clicking here.