March 13, 2013

Letters to the Editor
Boston Herald

To the Editor:

The state’s new gender identity anti-discrimination law has nothing to do with political correctness and everything to do with the rights of the people living in the commonwealth (“Gender law bends to PC,” Feb. 26). A coalition of more than 100 advocacy groups supported the law, because it addresses discrimination and ensures equality. Transgender students should be free to focus on reading, writing and arithmetic — and not forced to worry about whether it is safe to walk down the hall or sidewalk or be required to use a locker room of the sex with which they do not identify.

Massachusetts may have been the first state to legalize marriage for same-sex couples, but we were far behind others when it came to gender-identity protection. Sixteen other states and the District of Columbia came before us. The law merely extends legal protections to members of our community who continue to face prejudice, which quite simply is not acceptable.

Sincerely,

Robert Trestan

Acting Boston Regional Director
Jeffrey Robbins
Regional Board Chair