This Year's Legislative Agenda

    • We believe that transgender people deserve full equality.

       

    • We believe that LGBTQ youth must be protected from the harmful practice of conversion therapy to change their sexuality or gender identity.

       

    • We believe that all youth deserve to receive comprehensive, medically accurate and age-appropriate information in sex education courses.

       

    • We believe that nonbinary people deserve to have their identity accurately reflected on state-issued identification.

       

    • We believe that same-sex parents and their children should have their families recognized and respected.

       

    • We believe that regular reporting on the status and health of LGBTQ prisoners held in restrictive housing and solitary confinement should be required.

       

    • We believe that archaic laws in Massachusetts should be repealed to protect LGBTQ people from the threat of outdated laws still on the books being used to criminalize them.

       

    • We believe that everyone should have access to HIV prevention services and screening, including young adults, and that HIV survivors should have access to appropriate care.

Legislative agenda for 2020-2021

From transgender equality to important protections for LGBTQ youth and seniors, there's still more work to do! MassEquality supports the following bills that will directly impact the LGBTQ community. Learn more about our LGBTQ Champions Agenda for the 2019-2020 legislative session.

Our LGBTQ Champions Agenda for the 2019-2020 legislative session includes the following bills and ballot measures:

  • An Act Relative to abusive practices to change sexual orientation and gender identity in minors: This bill would prohibit any efforts by licensed professionals in Massachusetts who counsel minors from attempting to "change" the sexual orientation or gender identity of a minor. Victory! On April 8, Massachusetts officially became the 16th state to outlaw this practice, thanks to the support of our coalition partners, the leadership of powerful champions for LGBTQ equality in the legislature, and the volunteers and donors who helped us fight to protect LGBTQ youth.
  • An Act Relative to Healthy Youth: This bill would ensure that a school electing to teach sex education selects a curriculum that is accurate, age-appropriate and comprehensive.
  • An Act relative to gender identity on Massachusetts identification:This bill would allow an applicant to designate “X” ion their driver’s license, birth certificate, or other state-issued ID, and direct the AG to report on other state forms that require a gender designation and the purpose of the requirement.
  • An Act Relative to the Collection of Data on LGBTQI Prisoners Held in Restrictive Housing: This bill would require correctional facilities to collect data and regularly report on the status of LGBTQ prisoners held in restrictive housing and solitary confinement in the Commonwealth.
  • An Act to promote efficiency in co-parent adoptions: This bill would streamline the process for co-parent adoptions by LGBTQ couples who petition to adopt their own children in order to ensure universal recognition and respect for their parentage.
  • An Act relative to the reform of unconstitutional archaic laws: This bill would repeal archaic laws criminalizing sodomy that remain on the books and could threaten LGBTQ people in the future.
  • An Act establishing the Massachusetts Law Revision Commission: This bill would create a standing commission to review Massachusetts laws and identify archaic language that should be repealed.
  • An Act Relative to PrEP Access for Young Adults: This bill would add prevention services to the healthcare that minors may consent to without parental permission, removing a significant barrier to critical care.
  • An Act relative to HIV, aging, and home care eligibility: This bill would lower the age at which HIV survivors become eligible for Home Care services to 50, extending needed support to people experiencing early-onset aging symptoms due to HIV.