Press Release  AG Healey Launches Social Media Campaign In Support Of Transgender Public Aaccomodations Bill

Boston —  Attorney General Maura Healey today kicked off a social media campaign in support of legislation to protect transgender people from discrimination in public places, featuring short video messages from a mix of high-profile allies of the transgender community and families from across Massachusetts.

The social media campaign features videos from allies like Caitlyn Jenner, Kathy Griffin, Olympic gold medal winner and World Cup champion Abby Wambach, Sen. Elizabeth Warren, and local supporters of the Transgender Public Accommodations Bill, including Harvard University Professor Henry Louis Gates, Celtics co-owner Steve Pagliuca and Boston Bruins center and alternate captain Patrice Bergeron.

The Transgender Public Accommodations Bill (House Bill 1577 and Senate Bill 735, filed by Representatives Byron Rushing and Denise Provost, and Senator Sonia Chang-Diaz), which is pending before the Joint Committee on the Judiciary, would protect transgender people from discrimination in places of public accommodation, including restaurants, hotels, parks, movie theaters, and gyms.

 “For me, this is a fundamental civil rights issue and makes clear we respect the dignity of each and every human being in our state,” said AG Healey. “This is about young people and their families feeling safe when they go to our hospitals, our restaurants, our movie theaters and other public places. We need a law on the books that will make sure everyone is welcome regardless of their gender identity.”

Among others, the cast of the Emmy-award winning TV series “Transparent” and Boston Mayor Marty Walsh will also submit videos in support of the campaign.

The AG’s Office is asking the public to share their own short videos on social media expressing their support for the bill using the hashtag #EveryoneWelcome. For the campaign launch video, click here.

On Tuesday, AG Healey met with transgender young people, their families and members of the business community for a roundtable discussion on the importance of equality and supporting the pending legislation.

The Transgender Public Accommodations Bill is supported by the Massachusetts Major City Chiefs, the Massachusetts Chiefs of Police Association, the Massachusetts Teachers Association, the American Federation of Teachers, the Massachusetts Association of School Committees, the Massachusetts Association of School Superintendents, all four major Boston sports teams, and businesses like Google, State Street, EMC, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Harvard Pilgrim Health Care, Eastern Bank, Legal Sea Foods, Twitter and the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce.

AG Healey testified before the Judiciary Committee in favor of the legislation in October 2015.

To download the AG’s social media campaign launch videos click here.

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