Massachusetts Transgender Political Coalition
Encyclopedia
The Massachusetts Transgender Political Coalition (MTPC) is an organization dedicated to ending discrimination
on the basis of gender identity
and gender expression. The MTPC educates the public, lobbies
state and local government, and encourages political activism.
The MTPC professes to work guided by the following values: "Equal rights
and institutional responsibility; working against all forms of oppression; building broad-based participation and community power; developing leaders and building coalitions; drawing strength from diverse experiences and identities; being informed by our history and elders; growing through challenge and critique; being inclusive of those who cannot be fully visible; and accountability to the communities for which we work."
MTPC was started by transgender activists and allies in September 2001. In early 2002, MTPC members began advocating for non-discrimination ordinance on the basis of gender identity and gender expression in Boston
, MA. The ordinance passed in October 2002 with a 9-1 vote. In 2003, MTPC members began advocating for a similar ordinance in Northampton, MA which passed in December 2005.
In the summer of 2006, MTPC began developing a campaign for a statewide gender identity/gender expression non-discrimination bill. The legislation to outlaw discrimination in Massachusetts on the basis of "gender identity or expression" was introduced Jan 10, 2007, by lead sponsors Representative Carl Sciortino
and Representative Byron Rushing
as House Bill #1722, "An Act Relative to Gender-Based Discrimination and Hate Crimes".
MTPC hosts a local transgender resource wiki and helpful materials for transgender activism on its website.
MTPC currently has a Boston chapter and a North Shore chapter (NSTA). Gunner Scott is the executive director of the organization, and Nancy Nangeroni chairs an eight-person steering committee. Current MTPC committees include a legislative committee, a fundraising committee, a training/community forums committee, a policy committee and a college/high school youth committee. MTPC also runs an e-list for college/high school transgender activists.
by Ethan Jacobs, 1/17/2008
Based on Gender Identity or Expression
by Beth Berlo,10/31/2002
Discrimination
Discrimination is the prejudicial treatment of an individual based on their membership in a certain group or category. It involves the actual behaviors towards groups such as excluding or restricting members of one group from opportunities that are available to another group. The term began to be...
on the basis of gender identity
Gender identity
A gender identity is the way in which an individual self-identifies with a gender category, for example, as being either a man or a woman, or in some cases being neither, which can be distinct from biological sex. Basic gender identity is usually formed by age three and is extremely difficult to...
and gender expression. The MTPC educates the public, lobbies
Lobbying
Lobbying is the act of attempting to influence decisions made by officials in the government, most often legislators or members of regulatory agencies. Lobbying is done by various people or groups, from private-sector individuals or corporations, fellow legislators or government officials, or...
state and local government, and encourages political activism.
The MTPC professes to work guided by the following values: "Equal rights
Civil rights
Civil and political rights are a class of rights that protect individuals' freedom from unwarranted infringement by governments and private organizations, and ensure one's ability to participate in the civil and political life of the state without discrimination or repression.Civil rights include...
and institutional responsibility; working against all forms of oppression; building broad-based participation and community power; developing leaders and building coalitions; drawing strength from diverse experiences and identities; being informed by our history and elders; growing through challenge and critique; being inclusive of those who cannot be fully visible; and accountability to the communities for which we work."
MTPC was started by transgender activists and allies in September 2001. In early 2002, MTPC members began advocating for non-discrimination ordinance on the basis of gender identity and gender expression in Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
, MA. The ordinance passed in October 2002 with a 9-1 vote. In 2003, MTPC members began advocating for a similar ordinance in Northampton, MA which passed in December 2005.
In the summer of 2006, MTPC began developing a campaign for a statewide gender identity/gender expression non-discrimination bill. The legislation to outlaw discrimination in Massachusetts on the basis of "gender identity or expression" was introduced Jan 10, 2007, by lead sponsors Representative Carl Sciortino
Carl Sciortino
Carl M. Sciortino, Jr., commonly known as Carl Sciortino, is an American politician from Massachusetts. A Democrat, he is a member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives representing the 34th Middlesex district...
and Representative Byron Rushing
Byron Rushing
Byron Rushing serves the Ninth Suffolk district in the Massachusetts House of Representatives. A Democrat, first elected in 1982, Representative Rushing, serves as the Second Assistant Majority Leader...
as House Bill #1722, "An Act Relative to Gender-Based Discrimination and Hate Crimes".
MTPC hosts a local transgender resource wiki and helpful materials for transgender activism on its website.
MTPC currently has a Boston chapter and a North Shore chapter (NSTA). Gunner Scott is the executive director of the organization, and Nancy Nangeroni chairs an eight-person steering committee. Current MTPC committees include a legislative committee, a fundraising committee, a training/community forums committee, a policy committee and a college/high school youth committee. MTPC also runs an e-list for college/high school transgender activists.
External links
- The Massachusetts Transgender Political Coalition website
- http://www.baywindows.com/index.php?ch=news&sc=glbt&sc2=features&sc3=&id=54949Trans bill briefing draws a crowd
by Ethan Jacobs, 1/17/2008
- Northampton Human Rights Commission "Gender Identity or Expression - Definition"
- Text of Boston's Ordinance Regarding Discrimination
Based on Gender Identity or Expression
by Beth Berlo,10/31/2002