Massachusetts Passes Transgender Anti-Discrimination Bill

The Massachusetts Senate passed a bill which protects transgender people in the housing and credit industries as well as the workplace, and includes them under hate crime protections. The bill also adds the definition of gender identity to the General Laws of Massachusetts:

"Gender identity" shall mean a person's gender-related identity, appearance or behavior, whether or not that gender-related identity, appearance or behavior is different from that traditionally associated with the person's physiology or assigned sex at birth. Gender-related identity may be shown by providing evidence including, but not limited to, medical history, care or treatment of the gender-related identity, consistent and uniform assertion of the gender-related identity or any other evidence that the gender-related identity is sincerely held, as part of a person's core identity; provided however, gender-related identity shall not be asserted for improper purpose.

The bill passed the Senate by a vote of 95-56 and has been sent to be signed by Governor Deval Patrick.

Thanks to OUTlaw 1L Rep. Kaley Lentini for the link.

MA Transgender Rights Bill

Advocates report that the House is set to debate a transgender rights bill. Read more from Masslive.

The Advocate asks- "What can Brown do for you?"

The March issue of The Advocate has published an interesting read by Julie Bolcer.  What does the road ahead look like for LGBTQ equality following Senator Brown's election here in Massachusetts? Read Julie's article here.

Texas AG intervenes in same-sex divorce case... again.

The Advocate's Julie Bolcer reports that Texas AG Greg Abbott has intervened in a second same-sex divorce case. The first case involved two men who filed for a divorce and it was granted by Judge Tena Callahan. Abbott said then, as he does now, that it is the wrong legal remedy because the couples were not legally married in Texas. Instead, Abbott says the marriage should be made legally void. The couple in the most recent case are two women who were married here in Massachusetts and now seek a divorce. More details about the couples and the interventions can be read in the full article on The Advocate's webiste.