From: Representative
Denise Andrews, Second Franklin District
Subject: Personal
Testimony In Support of Transgender Equal Rights Bill-
HB 502
and S764
Date: June
8, 2011
Thank you to the Chairs and to the Committee for your
interest and work in advancing our Commonwealth and our stateÕs historical role
as a leader in civil rights and equality.
ÒA community
is democratic only when the humblest and weakest person can enjoy the highest
civil, economic, and social rights that the biggest and most powerful possess.Ó
This is a quote from A. Philip
Randolph the founder of the March on Washington which advanced our
countryÕs civil rights.
Massachusetts citizens and their government are also known
for and are called to be key leaders in advancing our society, a society that
respects and is just to all. Once again, we have a chance to continue this
calling and legacy.
I speak in strong support and as a co-sponsor of the
Transgender Equal Rights Bill because it is just and is the right action to
take to advance civil rights in our Commonwealth and world. This action will
provide an additional policy to insure that all citizens are protected against
discrimination.
For background:
I have worked with others for over 25 years in the private
sector, to advance civil rights and diversity and inclusion. IÕve had the
privilege to learn and teach diversity and inclusion to thousands of people, in
over 23 counties, who desire to engage and to progress on these issues. What IÕve
found to be a common experience across all countries is that on many diversity
and civil rights issues, there are commonly held beliefs. There are, also, fundamental
disagreements that will never be changed. However, even with these fundamental
differences progress can occur. What I have learned, developed and taught
leaders is that if we embrace the principle, Òwe do not need to agree but we
must ensure respect, compassion and justice for allÓ, we can progress. Leaders
in international and local companies understand the importance of spearheading
civil rights and diversity in order to both attract and retain top talent, as
well as it is an essential way to create competitive advantages in the market
place. Many leaders and companies have already enacted policies and benefits to
insure that transgender individuals are given the same rights, protection,
benefits and respect as their colleagues enjoy.
I, also, Chair Governor PatrickÕs Non Discrimination, Equal
Opportunity and Diversity Advisory Council for our Commonwealth. Our charter is
to move Massachusetts to be a global model and an exemplar state in diversity
by 2020. In order to achieve this it will require Massachusetts to accelerate
our progress and actions in civil rights and diversity and inclusion. Massachusetts
leads in many areas but still has a long way to go in other areas, Transgender
equality is one of those areas where we are lagging. In researching to prepare
for this testimony, I found there are approximately 34 countries/territories
that are actively making progress on transgender rights, protection and
justice. South Africa lead progress in 2003 and several countries have since
followed, including Bolivia, Pakistan, Croatia, Poland, Spain, Turkey, Israel,
New Zealand and the Netherlands. In 2009, the United States, after a decade of
struggle, passed and President Obama signed into law the Federal Hate Crime Law,
an inclusive hate crimes bill that includes gender identity. Today, at the
local level, approximately fifteen states plus Washington DC and 132 cities
including Boston (2002), Cambridge (1997), Northampton (2005) and Amherst
(2009) have enacted laws to include gender identity/expression to
non-discrimination and hate crime laws. Our Governor, also, recently moved
Massachusetts ahead by issuing an Executive Order protecting transgender state
employees from discrimination. Now it is the General Courts time to act! The
adoption of the Transgender Equal Rights bill is another critical step to have
Massachusetts join the ranks of existing leaders for advancing civil rights and
just societies.
After benchmarking with other public and private
organizations that have advanced transgender rights and benefits, one should
conclude that passing the Transgender Equality Bill is logical and
straightforward.
However, there is also a moral and emotional analysis that
we need to consider.
We must not be ignorant or emotionally disconnected from the
reality that we in this commonwealth are not consistently treating people with
respect, with compassion or justly. Discrimination, harassment, minimization and
disparities are a reality for the vast majority of our transgender brothers and
sisters in our Commonwealth.
I have attached two reports with compelling facts that begin
to dimensionalize these disparities. (The National Transgender Discrimination
Survey and the Williams InstituteÕs Report on ÒThe Cost of Employment
Discrimination against Transgender Residents of MassachusettsÓ).
We must ask ourselves as elected leaders, if we or members
of our family faced these injustices would we tolerate it? I choose to believe our collective
unanimous answer would be ÒnoÓ. The reality, however, is that members of our
extended family are facing these injustices daily, and I respectfully implore
you to care deeply and to act in order to end tolerance of these injustices and
disrespect.
I respectfully request your committee to urgently move this
bill out of committee with a favorable finding. Present the opportunity to the
members of this 187th General Court of Massachusetts to act and advance the
Transgender Equal Rights Bill, thus continuing the legacy of MassachusettsÕ civil
rights leadership.
With God speed, thank you.
Representative Denise Andrews
Additional
quotes for reflection as one deliberates:
ÒIn giving rights to others which belong to them, we give rights to ourselves and to our country.Ó
ÒThere is no place for violence or intolerance in this country, and it is urgent that we address these issues now. Ò
Hillary
Rodham Clinton
1.References:
LGBT
rights by country or territory
National Transgender
Discrimination Survey
Legislative
Brief: Transgender Equal Rights Coalition
The
Cost of Employment Discrimination against Transgender Residents of
Massachusetts