We have two wonderful teenage daughters: a college student studying theater lighting design, and a high school senior with a love of dance and exercise science. In so many ways, they are typical kids heading to the beach or hanging with friends, going to the gym, working hard in their classes and internships, and dreaming of their futures. But for our beautiful transgender daughter, even with driver’s license and passport in hand showing her true female gender identity, she could be forced to use the men’s room if Massachusetts nondiscrimination laws are repealed at the ballot this November.
If the 2016 law is repealed, then ignorance and fear will have won. Despite misleading ads warning of the danger of men in women’s rooms, the existing law did NOT cause an increase in bathroom crime, and fraudulent access to bathrooms and physical assault are still illegal. Indeed, it is transgender people who are at heightened risk of violence and harassment every day, just for being who they are. Please join us in voting YES on 3 for the safety, respect and dignity of everyone.
Andrew and Miriam Bourke
Northampton