Gov. Deval Patrick signed into law a bill designed to protect the transgender people from discrimination.

By Andrew Firestone

Rep. Carl Sciortino, D – Somerville, saw one of his sponsored laws enacted by the Massachusetts House of Representatives and signed into law by Gov. Deval Patrick last week. The bill protects the 33,000 transgender people in the commonwealth from discrimination by granting them status as a protected class under the State’s hate crime laws.

“I know that this is a good bill that restores civil rights for people who really need them,” said Sciortino.

The bill was co-sponsored by Byron Rushing in the house, and Sen. Sonia Chiang-Diaz and Ben Downing in the Senate.

The house passed the bill at the end of the session by of vote of 95-58 on November 15, where it faced criticism from house republicans, including Rep. Shaunna O’Connell and Rep. Marc Lombardo of Billerica. Lombardo used the example of a daycare company, who might lose business because of parents who would not accept the employee.

O’Connell said that state laws were strong enough to protect people against such hate, but was countered by Sciortino, who said society was not doing its job in stopping blatant discrimination.

Rep. Carl Sciortino, feels that the new law is a necessary measure in assuring equal treatment for those in the transgender community.

Sciortino was joined by Rep. Denise Provost who pointed out that Bright Horizons, one of the biggest daycare companies in the state had laws protecting against such discrimination. They were supported by Somerville Board of Alderman President Rebekah Gewirtz, in her capacity as lobbyist for the National Association of Social Workers.

“For a lot of people, the transgender equal rights bill is a jobs bill. There are a lot of people who are transgender who have trouble getting employed who will now be protected,” she said. “They excel at their work and they do well. People should be able to maintain their employment.”

The bill protects transgender people from discrimination in receiving employment, housing and credit. Sciortino was quick to point out that transgender people, upon receiving employment, must reveal their gender of birth, and sometimes find themselves alienated at the revelation.

“Transgender people can’t stay closeted, they have to disclose at that moment,” he said. “It’s the reality that employers on a regular basis revoke offers of employment at that moment.”

During his speech on the floor of the house chamber, Sciotino noted the violence and hatred with which many transgender people are met with on a daily basis. He recalled the tragic murder of Rita Hester, who was stabbed to death in 1998 in Allston. He recounted several similar cases of hate-driven crimes.

“Each of these people are human beings, residents of this state, with real lives, families, struggles and successes, who experienced in the worst way how unforgiving society can be towards transgender people simply because of who they are,” he said.

“Having a high likelihood of being unemployed or underemployed, many transgender individuals live in poverty and depend on safety programs to get by,” he said, noting the cost of discrimination upon the transgender community.

The bill was lauded by Attorney General Martha Coakley, House Speaker Robert DeLeo and Govenor Deval Patrick, who signed the bill into law on November 23.

“No individual should face discrimination because of who they are,” said Governor Patrick in a press release.  “This legislation gives Massachusetts the necessary tools to stop hate crimes against transgender people and to treat others fairly. I am proud to sign it.”

Massachusetts joins 15 other states who have enacted similar legislation to combat hatred against transgender people.

Somerville lawmaker penned civil rights bill