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 10th 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.”
Compilations 