You just know Howie Carr will rip Gov. Patrick a new one for his latest action...
Governor Deval Patrick said yesterday he supports a bill protecting transgendered people from discrimination, legislation similar to laws already enacted in more than a dozen states."Massachusetts has a rich history of protecting the civil rights of all its citizens," Patrick said in a letter that was read to a legislative committee at a State House hearing. Yet "transgendered people continue to face serious discrimination in the workplace, in schools, and in public accommodations."
"The proposed legislation represents another step forward in achieving fair and equal treatment for all," he said.
The bill proposed by state Representative Carl Sciortino, a Somerville Democrat, would add the terms "gender identity and gender expression" to existing antidiscrimination and hate crime laws in Massachusetts. Transgendered people are people transitioning to a sex different than the one they had at birth. Some wear clothes of the other sex, while others have undergone hormone replacement therapy or sex-change surgery.
House Speaker Salvatore F. DiMasi was still reviewing the bill, spokesman David Guarino said. Senate President Therese Murray could not be reached for comment last night.
UPDATE: More from the Globe and Herald.
SECOND UPDATE: More from Steve Bailey and the Herald.
THIRD UPDATE: More from Casey Ross, the Globe and the AP.
