BOSTON (WHDH) - Transgender families and advocates were at the State House Monday to celebrate a law recently signed by Gov. Charlie Baker that protects the rights of the transgender community.
More than 200 people attended the “citizens signing” of the transgender rights bill. At the ceremony, people added their signatures to celebrate the new law.
“It was incredibly exciting and affirming,” said George Hastie, a member of the transgender community.
The law allows transgender people to use restrooms that correspond with their gender identity. It also protects transgender people from discrimination in public places. Mimi Lemay is the mother of 6-year-old Jacob. Lemay said Jacon started insisting he was a boy when he was 2-and-a-half and transitioned when he was 4 years old.
“I can feel more at ease that he can go out with his friends to a restaurant or a movie theater and not be faced with discrimination,” said Lemay.
Attorney General Maura Healey spoke at the gathering.
“To all of you, you brought your diverse members together, with one collective voice, to say loud and clear ‘We cannot, we must, not we will not tolerate discrimination anywhere in Massachusetts,’” she said.
The law officially goes into effect on Oct. 1.
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