Mr. Baker’s promise to sign the bill marks the end of a yearslong legislative battle over how to accommodate transgender people in MA.
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Asa Goodwillie, of Watertown, Mass., who is transgender, protests outside the state house in Boston, Wednesday, June 1, 2016.
The House version includes a provision calling for penalties against anyone who makes an “improper” claim of gender identity.
“We’ve certainly listened to a variety of points of view from many sides and have said, from the beginning, that we don’t want people to be discriminated against”, the Republican told the Boston Globe during an interview.
This year, the bill establishing public accommodations protection received strong support from Attorney General Maura Healey, members of Massachusetts’ congressional delegation, and a large coalition of gay rights activists, businesses, religious leaders and others.
State Rep. James Lyons, R-Andover, said the bill “throws common sense out the window” and is about “changing our society and social engineering by those on the left”.
The Senate passed legislation earlier this month that does not include that language. – Rep. John Fernandes, a supporter of the bill.
The House voted 116-36 in favor of the bill, which bars discrimination against transgender people in public accommodations, and allows them to use public facilities that correspond to their gender identity.
“I support the House version, which, I believe, supplies the right amount of clarity with respect to the public safety questions that other people have raised”, Baker told The Globe, adding that those questions have come from “fair-minded and well-meaning people, I believe”.
In a statement issued Tuesday afternoon, Baker said he would be willing to sign the version now being considered in the House.
Wednesday’s floor debate spanned five hours as lawmakers considered 36 amendments, many of which were created to weaken the bill.
In a reflective speech that held the attention of the sometimes restless House, Harrington explained that she went into the issue in 2011 with her mind made up to oppose the bill and “wasn’t listening with an open mind or open heart”.
Today’s vote on the bill drew the largest crowd of the current session of the Massachusetts General Court, says WBUR, which adds that the debate was an emotional one. You could tell your child that MA created a law that makes sure transgender people have the same rights as they do.
Harrington cited her Roman Catholic beliefs to argue against those who object to the bill on religious grounds.
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The bill’s final details may be worked out by a conference committee, unless legislative leaders can address differences informally.
