News
MassEquality Responds to IOC Decision
Boston, MA – MassEquality expresses disappointment, though not surprise, at the recent decision by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to limit participation in female category events. This decision outlines that only women who have XX chromosomes will be allowed to compete. This excludes transgender and intersex female athletes. This decision directly contradicts the IOC’s own…
MassEquality Responds to Proposed Rules to Limit Access to Gender Affirming Care
Boston, MA — MassEquality strongly opposes proposed rules issued by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) that would undermine access to medically necessary gender-affirming care for transgender youth and penalize hospitals for providing those services. The proposed rules would require that not only…
Standing Against Hate: MassEquality Responds to Attack on Transgender Memorial
This week, as we prepared to commemorate Transgender Day of Remembrance, a memorial on Boston Common was deliberately destroyed by unknown individuals. The display consisted of 425 transgender flags, each representing a transgender person whose life was taken by violence since 2020. Organized by The Queer Neighborhood Council, the memorial was created to honor those…
Statement in Support of Giselle Byrd
Recently a transgender appointee to the Massachusetts Commission on the Status of Women (MCSW), was subject to hateful attacks and backlash after some anti transgender news and social media outlets circulated information about her appointment in an attempt to defame her character. Mass Equality proudly extends its strong support for Giselle Byrd who was appointed…
MassEquality Responds to Fenway Health’s Decision to Halt Gender-Affirming Care for Minors and Young Adults
MassEquality Responds to Fenway Health’s Decision to Halt Gender-Affirming Care for Minors and Young Adults MassEquality expresses its deep concern over Fenway Health’s recent announcement that it will no longer provide medical gender-affirming care, including hormones and puberty blocks, to patients under the age of 19. Fenway Health, a federally qualified health center (FQHC), cited…
MassEquality Responds to DESE Audit
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE –August 26, 2025 MassEquality Responds to DESE Audit Worcester, MA: MassEquality is deeply concerned by the findings of the recent audit of the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE), which comes amid a clear and troubling rise in anti-LGBTQ+ sentiment in schools across every county in the Commonwealth. The audit…
Mass Equality Responds to Anti Transgender Rally at the State House
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE –February 5, 2025 Mass Equality Responds to Anti Transgender Rally at the State House Worcester, MA: Today, members of the Massachusetts legislature invited members of a known anti-LGBTQ hate group to the State House today for a rally and press conference in order to promote discriminatory bills impacting transgender youth. The Massachusetts…
MassEquality Responds to the Bullying of Worcester City Councilor Thu Nguyen
January 15, 2025 Worcester, MA: MassEquality is deeply troubled to learn that Worcester City Councilor Thu Nguyen, Massachusetts’ first nonbinary city councilor, has been repeatedly subjected to misgendering and racism while serving on the Worcester City Council. Most concerning is the repeated use of the dehumanizing term “it” by Councilor Candy Mero-Carlson when referring to…
Mass Equality Responds to Congressman Seth Moulton’s attacks on Transgender Athletes
Worcester, MA – This November, as we observe Transgender Awareness Month and prepare for the 25th anniversary of Transgender Day of Remembrance in Boston, the transgender community is grappling with both the personal and political challenges of the current moment. In addition to reflecting on our history and honoring those we’ve lost, we are also…
Mass Equality Responds to Attack on Transgender Teen in Gloucester
Worcester, MA; Mass Equality was horrified to hear of the brutal beating of a transgender Gloucester teenage boy, by members of the Gloucester High School Football team on Friday night. With compassion, we extend our heartfelt thoughts to the student, their family, and everyone touched by this loss within the community and beyond. Mass Equality…