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Scott to head MTPC, HRC and local orgs provide financial support by Ethan Jacobs
staff reporterThursday Jan 10, 2008 Massachusetts Transgender Political Coalition’s (MTPC) campaign to pass the Bay State’s first statewide transgender civil rights bill kicked into high gear today with the announcement that founding MTPC member and overall trans activist powerhouse Gunner Scott has been appointed director of the organization. Scott becomes MTPC’s first paid staff member, and he’ll have a lot of additional firepower at his disposal. Last year MTPC received a $25,000 grant from the Boston Foundation, and today MTPC announced that Human Rights Campaign (HRC) has also pledged to donate $25,000 to the effort.
According to an MTPC press release HRC has pledged to donate $10,000 of that sum immediately as a challenge grant, urging other organizations to match it. MTPC also reports that it is receiving financial support from MassEquality, the Massachusetts Lesbian and Gay Bar Association, Gay and Lesbian Advocates and Defenders and AIDS Action Committee.
Beyond supporting MTPC financially, HRC is also providing help from a familiar face. HRC Deputy Field Director Jeremy Pittman, who formerly worked up here in the Massachusetts as deputy campaign director for MassEquality, will be working closely with MTPC on their education and lobbying activities.
Scott has a strong track record on passing trans rights legislation, having helped lead the fight in 2002 to pass an anti-discrimination ordinance in Boston. He previously served as co-chair of MTPC, and his fellow co-chair Holly Ryan will become the organization’s sole chair. The current statewide bill, House Bill 1722, will add gender identity and expression language to the state’s non-discrimination and hate crimes laws. MTPC expects the judiciary committee to hold a hearing on the bill either this month or next month.
Ethan Jacobs can be reached at ejacobs@baywindows.com
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