Yes on 3 - Resolution — File 206576

WHEREAS: The Massachusetts House of Representatives and Senate approved the addition of gender identity to the Massachusetts Public Accommodations Law (M.G.L c. 272, §§ 92A, 98 and 98A) on July 8, 2016; and WHEREAS: Governor Charlie Baker signed this legislation, An Act Relative to Transgender Anti-Discrimination, into law on July 8, 2016; and WHEREAS: The updated Massachusetts Public Accommodations Law has been in full effect since October 1, 2016; and WHEREAS: The Somerville Board of Aldermen has long demonstrated leadership on the issue of transgender equality, amending, in May of 2014, the city’s non-discrimination ordinance (Somerville Code of Ordinances Part II, Chapter 2, Article V, Division 6, Sec. 2-237) to include gender identity and expression, ensuring that members of the transgender community have legal protection against discrimination in matters of housing, employment, education, contracts, purchasing or public accommodations and making Somerville only the sixth municipality in the Commonwealth to enact such legislation; and, on March 24, 2016 passing a unanimous Resolution in support of the expansion of Massachusetts non- discrimination laws to include gender identity and calling for the passage of the respective versions of the House and Senate bills; and WHEREAS: The Massachusetts statewide election upcoming on November 6, 2018 includes a ballot question seeking to repeal the provision in the Massachusetts Public Accommodations Law prohibiting discrimination on the basis of gender identity in places of public accommodation; and WHEREAS: Repeal of those provisions of the Massachusetts Public Accommodations Law would be contrary to the values and principles that the City of Somerville has long espoused and that we are sworn to uphold; NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED: That the Somerville Board of Aldermen does hereby reaffirm our commitment to equal protection under the laws for all people; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this Board opposes any effort to infringe on the rights of transgender and gender non-conforming members of our community; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That we, the members of this Board do hereby pledge to sign on to the “Yes on 3 Coalition” organized by Freedom for All Massachusetts.