As expected, the so-called “Bathroom Bill” is once again rearing its ugly head at the Statehouse, with advocates bringing members of the clergy to Beacon Hill to call on the Legislature to pass this dangerous and unnecessary bill. The panel was made up of Bishop M. Thomas Shaw of the Episcopal Diocese of Massachusetts; the transsexual Interim Episcopal Chaplain at Harvard University, Rev. Cameron Partridge; an openly “transgender man” Sean Delmore, Assistant Minister at College Avenue United Methodist Church, Somerville; and Rabbi Joseph Berman of Temple B’nai Israel in Revere.
The Interfaith Coalition for Transgender Equality sponsored the event and has dubbed this week “Transgender Faith Action Week.” In less than a month, on May 3, the main advocates for the bill, the Massachusetts Transgender Political Caucus, will hold their annual Lobby Day at the State House. Aside from the usual bizarre show at the Judiciary Committee, this Lobby Day is the biggest parade in the halls of the Statehouse of men dressed as women, and women dressed as men.
Our hearts go out to those who suffer from gender confusion. However, legislation allowing any man to enter any woman’s bathroom, locker room or health club puts the safety, privacy and modesty of all women and children at risk. As I noted in the Boston Globe, the number of sponsors of the legislation has markedly declined from 81 to 52 in the House and from 23 to 16 in the Senate, a testament to the hard work of MFI and you, our citizen lobbyists.
