State Rep. Winslow Votes in Favor of Transgender Equal Rights Bill

The Huffington Post reported this week that "Massachusetts will become the 16th state to treat transgender citizens as a protected class after legislature passed the Transgender Equal Rights Bill, which not only adds protections to the state's civil rights laws against employment, education, housing and credit discrimination, but also adds gender identity and expression to the state's hate crimes law," according to the Huffington Post's article.

The bill still needs final approval from both branches and will need to be signed by Governor Deval Patrick.

Medfield's State Representative, Dan Winslow (R-Norfolk) said he voted in favor of the bill.

"This week I voted in favor of a bill that secures the civil rights for members of the transgender community," Winslow said. "As approved, transgendered people cannot be discriminated against in housing, mortgage and bank lending, or employment."

According to Winslow, the bill also grants protection against physical attack under the Massachusetts hate crimes law. The bill moved to the House floor after the Judiciary Committee more precisely defined who was eligible for legal protection and addresses concerns regarding privacy and modesty in gender-separate facilities.

Winslow also referred to President Calvin Coolidge's remarks in his inaugural address when discussing his vote in favor of the bill.

“The fundamental precept of liberty is toleration,” and I am proud to cast my vote in favor of toleration,” Winslow recalled Coolidge saying.