Three years after a win in Massachusetts, overwhelming support for nationwide LGBTQ protections
Three years ago today, Massachusetts took a historic step forward when Gov. Charlie Baker signed into law nondiscrimination protections for transgender Bay Staters, making it the 18th state in the nation to have express and enduring nondiscrimination protections for LGBTQ people.
The campaign won because it brought together thousands of people from all walks of life and from across the political spectrum—exactly the kind of broad coalition Freedom for All Americans is bringing to the movement for nationwide nondiscrimination protections.
Even more impressive: When a group of anti-LGBTQ extremists attempted to repeal these protections at the ballot in 2018, the people of Massachusetts overwhelmingly voted to keep them in place. That made Massachusetts the first state in the nation to uphold protections for transgender people at the ballot box.
Freedom for All Americans was proud to help lead the campaign for transgender protections in Massachusetts. Now, we’re using this momentum to pass federal legislation that will fully protect all LGBTQ people nationwide.
The House of Representatives has already taken action by passing the Equality Act. That was another first—the first time an LGBTQ nondiscrimination bill that covers employment, housing and public spaces has been passed through a chamber of Congress.
But we need Congress to keep the ball rolling, and urgently, because two-thirds of LGBTQ people report facing discrimination in housing, employment, and public spaces like restaurants and doctor’s offices. That’s simply unacceptable.
It’s also unacceptable that we don’t have nationwide protections yet, considering polls have shown, year after year, that a majority of Americans—from a wide range of political persuasions and faith traditions—support them. It’s time to make them a reality.
Today, we’re celebrating victory in Massachusetts. Now, it’s time to pay it forward to ensure all LGBTQ Americans are protected from discrimination.
The campaign won because it brought together thousands of people from all walks of life and from across the political spectrum—exactly the kind of broad coalition Freedom for All Americans is bringing to the movement for nationwide nondiscrimination protections.
Even more impressive: When a group of anti-LGBTQ extremists attempted to repeal these protections at the ballot in 2018, the people of Massachusetts overwhelmingly voted to keep them in place. That made Massachusetts the first state in the nation to uphold protections for transgender people at the ballot box.
Freedom for All Americans was proud to help lead the campaign for transgender protections in Massachusetts. Now, we’re using this momentum to pass federal legislation that will fully protect all LGBTQ people nationwide.
The House of Representatives has already taken action by passing the Equality Act. That was another first—the first time an LGBTQ nondiscrimination bill that covers employment, housing and public spaces has been passed through a chamber of Congress.
But we need Congress to keep the ball rolling, and urgently, because two-thirds of LGBTQ people report facing discrimination in housing, employment, and public spaces like restaurants and doctor’s offices. That’s simply unacceptable.
It’s also unacceptable that we don’t have nationwide protections yet, considering polls have shown, year after year, that a majority of Americans—from a wide range of political persuasions and faith traditions—support them. It’s time to make them a reality.
Today, we’re celebrating victory in Massachusetts. Now, it’s time to pay it forward to ensure all LGBTQ Americans are protected from discrimination.