OnTheIssuesLogo

Charlie Baker on Civil Rights

 

 


Include gender identity in public accommodation rules

Governor Charlie Baker today signed compromise legislation, An Act relative to transgender anti-discrimination (S. 2407), to extend protections against discrimination for gender identity to any place of public accommodation, with the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination (MCAD) adopting regulations or policies to enforce its provisions.

"No one should be discriminated against in Massachusetts because of their gender identity," said Governor Baker. "This compromise legislation extends additional protections to the Commonwealth's transgender community, and includes language to address the public safety concerns expressed by some by requiring the Attorney General to issue regulations to protect against people abusing the law."

"[This] compromise proposal that assures additional protections from discrimination based on gender identity and provides for guidance from the Attorney General to address issues of public safety that have been raised by some," said Lt. Governor Polito.

Source: Massachusetts voting records: S.735 & S. 2407 , Jul 8, 2016

OpEd: Campaign staff almost all white; others show diversity

Listen to the Massachusetts candidates for governor on the campaign trail and you'll hear calls for inclusion and praise for the state's diversity. Democrats, Republicans, and independents alike speak proudly of their intent to embrace all communities and aggressively protect civil rights. Yet despite the candidates' campaign rhetoric, their paid staffs do not always reflect the state's cultural tapestry. There are candidates with no black staff members, some without Hispanics on their payroll--at least one lacks both--and those who have not hired any Asian staff members. Among the large field of candidates, Democrats Martha Coakley and Steve Grossman and independent Evan Falchuk have staffs that best reflect the diversity of the state. Republican Charlie Baker has a staff that is almost entirely white. Democrats Joe Avellone, Juliette Kayyem, Don Berwick, and independent Jeff McCorm. (Boston Globe)
Source: Mass IEPAC: Research Profile on Charlie Baker, p.171-2 , Sep 1, 2014

2010: opposed trans-gendered "bathroom bill"; 2014: it's ok