Mass. Senate Passes Transgender Rights Bill
BOSTON (CBS/AP) — The Massachusetts Senate has passed a bill to ban discrimination against transgender people in public accommodations.
The Senate passed the bill with a 33-4 vote Thursday.
"Today the Senate stood up for the transgender people in our state who have suffered discrimination and harassment for far too long without these critical legal protections in place," Attorney General Maura Healey said in a public statement.
Seventeen states have similar laws.
Democratic Senate President Stan Rosenberg also backs the bill, which would bar discrimination in restaurants, malls and other public locations.
The bill would also let transgender people use bathrooms that correspond with their gender identity.
Rosenberg says transgender men are men and transgender women are women.
Opponents say the bill would violate the privacy rights of girls and women.
Massachusetts Family Institute President Andrew Beckwith says women will have no protection against being exposed to naked men in locker rooms if the bill passes.
The debate heads to the House.
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