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Legislature approves transgender civil rights bill

By Noah Bierman

 |  Globe Staff  

  November 16, 2011

The state Senate followed the House this morning in passing a transgender civil rights bill. Unlike the House, where the bill drew vocal opposition, it passed by voice vote in the Senate with only one speaker, the sponsor. Governor Deval Patrick said yesterday that he would sign it. Massachusetts would be the 16th state to treat transgender people as a protected class, according to advocates. “There is a problem, 33,000 residents are being denied their human rights, their opportunity,” said Benjamin B. Downing, a Pittsfield Democrat.

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