Hello all! As you may already know, this year Massachusetts is facing the first-ever statewide popular vote on protections that keep transgender people safe from discrimination.
A little backstory: In 2016 Massachusetts passed a law that protects transgender people in public spaces like restaurants, shops and doctor's offices. Massachusetts already had protections in place for lesbian, gay and bisexual people in four critical areas: Employment, housing, education and public places, and had protections for transgender people in employment, housing, and education.
Passage of the law in 2016 made Massachusetts one of the only 19 states in the country that fully protect all LGBT people from discrimination. This is critical because right now, federal law does not offer explicit nondiscrimination protections for LGBT people, and our federal government is increasingly hostile to LGB and particularly transgender people.
Unfortunately, opponents of the law were able to get the small number of signatures required to put our law on the ballot. A "yes" vote on Question 3 keeps the current law as it is, while a "no" vote would repeal it.
We're asking voters to vote Yes on 3 because we believe that everyone, including transgender people, should have the same protections, and be afforded dignity and respect in their daily lives.
You can learn more about the campaign here: https://www.freedommassachusetts.org/
And read more from me in Mother Jones: https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2018/10/massachusetts-transgender-rights-discrimination-ballot-question/
That's a brief overview. I'd love to answer some more in-depth questions. Ask away!
Proof: https://i.redd.it/sdne5r9tx7u11.jpg
