Transgender Lobby Day 2010

Michael Fraser is tired of living two lives.

Fraser, who is a cross dresser from Salem, explained that he hasn’t always felt comfortable expressing himself because of threats and the way people tend to glare in his direction.

“This is very personal,” said Fraser, “I’m an alcoholic. I drink in order to deal with my gender identity issues. This bill would protect me and stop me from having to live two lives.”

This is the first time, according to Fraser, that he has worked up the courage to come and lobby at the Statehouse, to garner support for “An Act Relative To Gender-Based Discrimination and Hate Crime Bill,” which is currently in the judicial committee.

The bill was originally introduced in 2007 by Rep. Carl Sciortino (D-Middlesex) and Rep. Byron Rushing (D- Boston), and would add gender identification and expression to Massachusetts’ hate crime and non-discriminatory laws.

People grouped together before the rally began at 2:15 p.m., and exchanged stories and “I Support Transgender Rights” stickers. Even though there were only 50 seats in Nurses Hall, more than 150 attendees lined the sides of the hall and stood on the staircase.

Fraser was one of the many transgender rally participants who were going to knock on their legislator’s doors, tell their story, and urge them to sign the upcoming bill.

Michelle Figueiredo, a transgender woman wearing multiple colorful stickers promoting transgender equality on her demure grey dress, said, “We need more rights. We need to be equal under the law.”

While this is the first time that Figueiredo lobbied for a bill, she is no stranger to this particular bill. Last year she testified in front of the judicial committee, when the bill was last considered. However, she already knew how she was going to “win over” her legislator.

“My game plan?” said Figueirdo with a large smile, “I’m going to share my positive experiences, and let it go from there.”

Figueirdo was the first person at her company, State Street Corporation, to transition from a male to a female while on the job.

“Everyone has been so supportive,” Figueirdo said, “I just want the opportunity to give more transgender people the opportunity to have more positive experiences. After all, we are all human beings.”

However, not everyone agrees that gender identification and gender expression should be included in non-discriminatory and hate crime laws.

Brian Camenker, the President of MassResistance, has a very strong stance against the bill. Unlike other opponents, Camenker explained that he did not find the “bathroom” clause the most unsettling. While he explained that “it’s a little bizarre,” Camenker took issue with the bill as a whole.

“The mental health profession still considers this a disorder – gender identification disorder,” said Camenker during a phone interview, “Why would they make it a crime to question someone who needs professional help? They are up against science.”

Kris Mineau, President of the Massachusetts Family Institute, is also starkly against the bill.

“The myriad of trying to redefine human sexuality is not acceptable,” said Mineau during a phone interview. Mineau has been speaking out against this bill since 2007.

Stephanie Lynne Edwards, a transgender woman wearing a quaint blue hat and grey overcoat, has been supporting this bill since it first was introduced to the joint committee in 2007.

“On September 10^th 2009 I was told I wasn’t allowed to use the ladies room,” Edwards recalled, “And there was nothing I could do about it.”

Edwards has a solution for people who are scared about the transgender equality bill: “They should talk to a transgender person. We all have the same hopes and dreams. We pay taxes. We want equal rights like everyone else.

Ron Marlow, a spokesperson for Deval Patrick, told the excited crowd, “We want to erase discrimination from the anti-discrimination laws.”

The mainly older crowd shouted, clapped and even flipped the bird at a photographer during the rally, understood the importance of what they were doing.

“I’m here to support transgender people, and I’m here to support a bill that would allow me to go into any establishment, get any job and to not be harassed,” said Edwards, “I’m here for equal rights.”

Bill Clinton and John Kerry endorse Martha Coakley for Senate

BOSTON – Martha Coakley supporters began to fill up the Grand Ballroom at the Fairmont Copley Plaza on Friday speaking in hushed tones about the latest bad news:  the new Suffolk University poll showing Coakley and Republican Scott Brown in a tie in the U.S. Senate Race.

But the whispers turned to “We Love Martha” in anticipation of an appearance by the Democratic candidate John Kerry and former President Bill Clinton bolster Democratic hopes in the tough race.

“The stakes are high,” warned Mayor Thomas Menino told the crowd, which filled the 750 capacity room, comparing Brown to an unfavorable character in the 1972 movie “The Candidate”.  The crowd booed when Brown’s name was mentioned and rose to a cheer when Menino reminded them that the election was about the people.

Chelsea Peterson, a campaign organizer, encouraged people to text in order to volunteer and help “keep the seat,” while Senate President Therese Murray asked the crowd, “Are you ready to rock and roll?”

Murray addressed the concerns brought on by the recent poll results. “I don’t care about the polls. Forget about them,” yelled Murray to a screaming crowd.

As excitement grew, people began fanning themselves with their “Vote for Martha Coakley” posters as the heat began to rise in the room, which was filled to capacity at 750 people. However, no one complained and some even took it as evidence that Coakley had a stronger voter population than Scott.

Gov. Deval Patrick told the crowd to make the race personal, since it will not only affect Massachusetts residents but the United States as a whole.

Sen. John Kerry built on Patrick’s sentiment. “Say yes to Martha Coakley, and say yes to the future,” while nicknaming Brown, “Silent Scott”.

As a sea of cell phones and point and shoot cameras illuminate the hall, Kerry introduced Clinton. However, Clinton did not emerge from behind the curtain for almost five minutes and Kerry smiled and said, “We’re going to have to filibuster,” as the crowd erupted into laughter.

When Clinton and Coakley did emerge, banners flew, cameras flashed and clicked, and cell phone cameras were in full force.

Clinton talked about the disaster in Haiti before mentioning how the financial prosperity and financial  surplus he left the United States with was gone due to mismanagement.

“You just have to decide whether you want us to be a tomorrow country or a yesterday country,” said Clinton.

After Clinton spoke, Coakley, who has been accused of running a lackluster campaign, made the campaign personal, telling the stories of Stephanie, who has two sick kids and no job, Vince, who lost his job and runs an ice cream company in Jamaica Plain, and Jim, whose wife battled breast cancer without health insurance.

She also encouraged her supporters to text UNICEF to donate $10 to Haiti. It wasn’t long before the crowd pulled out their cell phones and donated their $10.  Clinton, who was standing behind Coakley, smiled and thanked everyone for their donations.

Supporters were buoyed by Coakley’s performance.

“Today was when Coakley’s real passionate side came out,” said Kat Maines, a Smith College sophomore from Newburyport, “She stands for everything I believe in.”

Risa Kipp, from Newburyport, said that the healthcare bill is playing an important role in this election.

“All the speakers kept driving the point that Scott would be the 41^st vote against the reform.” Kipp, who is a sophomore at University of New Hampshire, will be staying in Massachusetts one extra day to make sure that she votes.

Kipp explains that Massachusetts is a very progressive state that paved the way for same sex marriages and mandatory medical insurance.

“Massachusetts is where things happen,” said Kipp, “We can’t have a senator that doesn’t represent what Massachusetts is.”