Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker signs transgender rights bill
Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker signed a bill into law on Friday (July 8) that allows transgender people within the state to use whichever bathroom and locker room that matches their gender identity.
The Massachusetts House of Representatives passed the bill last month after a previous version had been passed by the State Senate.
Massachusetts state law had already issued a law that banned any transgender discrimination in housing, education and employment in 2011 and now the new law extends the same protection to public accommodations such as bathrooms and locker rooms.
In a statement, the Governor said, “No one should be discriminated against in Massachusetts because of their gender identity.”
“This compromise legislation extends additional protections to the Commonwealth’s transgender community, and includes languages to address the public safety concerns expressed by some by requiring the Attorney General to issue regulations to protect against people abusing the law.”
Massachusetts has joined 18 other states that have non-discrimination protection laws for transgender people.
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