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BBA Testifies in Support of Transgender Rights
Consistent with its mission of promoting access to justice for all, the BBA recently joined other bar leaders to testify before the Joint Committee on the Judiciary in support of House Bill 1722- An Act Relative to Gender Based Discrimination and Hate Crimes. Speaking on behalf of the BBA, Laurie C. Carafone of Dwyer & Collora, LLP*, a member of the BBA’s Civil Rights and Liberties Section, expressed the BBA's strong support of HB 1722 by stating, "HB 1722 provides transgender people with access to the fundamental elements of society such as employment, housing, public accommodations, public education, credit, and protection from crime. It is essential that we are vigilant in providing this access to everyone – including those most vulnerable and marginalized in our society - if we are going to achieve genuine equality for all people here in the Commonwealth. Transgender people need the specific and explicit protection this bill would provide, because they suffer pervasive discrimination and disproportionately high levels of crime. In sum, enacting this bill is essential to preventing hate crimes and discrimination experienced by transgender people, and to send a clear message that the Commonwealth will not tolerate discriminatory and violent actions that target our colleagues, neighbors, classmates, family members, and friends because of their transgender identities." Click here for the full testimony. *BBA Sponsor Firm |
