Massachusetts Transgender Political Coalition

The Massachusetts Transgender Political Coalition (MTPC) is an organization dedicated to ending discrimination on the basis of gender identity and gender expression. The MTPC educates the public, lobbies state and local government, and encourages political activism.

The MTPC professes to work guided by the following values: "Equal rights and institutional responsibility; working against all forms of oppression; building broad-based participation and community power; developing leaders and building coalitions; drawing strength from diverse experiences and identities; being informed by our history and elders; growing through challenge and critique; being inclusive of those who cannot be fully visible; and accountability to the communities for which we work."

MTPC was started by transgender activists and allies in September 2001. In early 2002, MTPC members began advocating for non-discrimination ordinance on the basis of gender identity and gender expression in Boston, MA. The ordinance passed in October 2002 with a 9-1 vote. In 2003, MTPC members began advocating for a similar ordinance in Northampton, MA which passed in December 2005.

In the summer of 2006, MTPC began developing a campaign for a statewide gender identity/gender expression non-discrimination bill. The legislation to outlaw discrimination in Massachusetts on the basis of "gender identity or expression" was introduced Jan 10, 2007, by lead sponsors Representative Carl Sciortino and Representative Byron Rushing as House Bill #1722, "An Act Relative to Gender-Based Discrimination and Hate Crimes".

MTPC hosts a local transgender resource wiki and helpful materials for transgender activism on its website.

MTPC currently has a Boston chapter and a North Shore chapter (NSTA). Gunner Scott is the executive director of the organization, and Nancy Nangeroni chairs an eight-person steering committee. Current MTPC committees include a legislative committee, a fundraising committee, a training/community forums committee, a policy committee and a college/high school youth committee. MTPC also runs an e-list for college/high school transgender activists.^{[citation needed]}

External links

• The Massachusetts Transgender Political Coalition website
• [http://www.baywindows.com/index.php?ch=news&sc=glbt&sc2=features&sc3=&id=54949 Trans bill briefing draws a crowd

by Ethan Jacobs, 1/17/2008

• Northampton Human Rights Commission "Gender Identity or Expression - Definition"
• [http://www.masstpc.org/pubs/Boston_TG_Ordinance.pdf Text of Boston's Ordinance Regarding Discrimination

Based on Gender Identity or Expression]

• [http://www.baywindows.com/index.php?ch=news&sc=glbt&sc2=news&sc3=&id=66016 City Council approves transgender ordinance

by Beth Berlo,10/31/2002]