A few weeks after a transgender woman was beaten in Chelsea on Feb. 27, Boston City Council unanimously passed a resolution supporting a long-stalled, statewide bill to protect transgender residents.
“In our eyes, that’s a hate crime. In the law’s eye, that wouldn’t be considered a hate crime,” said Gunner Scott of the Massachusetts Transgender Political Caucus, who also met with House Speaker Robert DeLeo yesterday. “The speaker did say he supports the bill.”
DeLeo spokesman Seth Gitell had no comment on the meeting.
Last month, Gov. Deval Patrick issued an order banning discrimination against transgender workers in state government.
Scott — who said MTPC will host a lobby day at the State House on April 14 — helped craft Boston’s own 2002 ordinance protecting transgender rights.
“To have all of the city councilors stand up in support of this resolution, and have many of them speak passionately about why they support it, was really moving to me,” Scott said.
