NOTE: The following op-ed was written by State Rep. Ken Gordon, who represents Precinct 3 in Wilmington, in addition to all of Burlington and Bedford. The photo is from Freedom Massachusetts.
Millions of people who, just a dozen years ago, could not have imagined marrying the person they love, are today addressing wedding invitations, a result of the Supreme Court’s decision establishing marriage equality for all. Perhaps some of these couples might want to invite Massachusetts to the wedding, because without the bold step first taken in this commonwealth, marriage equality would not have happened this quickly.
It was here in 2003 that the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court recognized the constitutional right of same-sex couples to marry. Critics of the ruling predicted chaos, and pushed for a constitutional amendment restricting the right. But a funny thing happened on the way to the ballot box. The sky did not fall in. The institution of marriage endured. It was perhaps strengthened by the commitment of people who fought so hard for the right to say “I do”. Massachusetts set the example the rest of America followed and once again, “liberty and justice for all” is a pledge we have kept.
The commonwealth’s celebration must be brief because we still have work to do.
Unlike 17 other states, Massachusetts does not extend civil liberties in public accommodation to transgender people. Every day in Massachusetts, transgender people are denied services or are treated differently because of who they are.
According to the attorney general, 65 percent of transgender people report they have suffered some form of discrimination or harassment in the last 12 months. They are overlooked for rides in cabs and on buses. They are denied access to dressing rooms. They are hassled in restaurants and airports. And there is little the AG can do about it.
Extending civil rights makes this country stronger. Those who fear change may predict dire consequences if we reach out to transgender people, just as others did years ago when doors were opened to Massachusetts’ Italians, Irish, Jews, African-Americans and others. Each year, more than 300 Massachusetts families contact Boston Children’s Hospital convinced that their child has been born in someone else’s skin. These children deserve the same opportunity to live free of discrimination and harassment as the rest of us.
There is no evidence that extending civil liberties to transgender people will pose a threat to anyone else. Since some transgender rights were established in 2011, no one has been prosecuted for using them for an improper purpose. There is plenty of evidence, however, that if we do nothing, our transgender sons and daughters, brothers, sisters and friends will continue to suffer harassment and marginalization.
This is why I have joined 57 of my colleagues in the House of Representatives and 13 in the Senate, including Senators Mike Barrett and Ken Donnelly, in co-sponsoring Massachusetts Anti-Transgender Discrimination Bill. It is endorsed by corporations such as Harvard Pilgrim, Google and Eastern Bank. I promised to defend the civil rights of the people of Massachusetts when I took office. Extending a civil remedy for discrimination in public accommodation is consistent with that promise.
We led the way on marriage equality. It is time to lead again.
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