Issue Position: Inclusivity for All Genders, Sexualities, and Romantic Identities

Issue Position

I remember being at the Amherst Town Hall the morning after gay marriage was legalized by the courts in Massachusetts, and watching the first lesbian couples in the country be officially married. It was inspiring to be in the state that initiated the whole marriage equality movement, which has now made gay marriage an issue taken for granted not just by Democrats but by many Republicans as well.
Still, there is a lot more we need to lead on:

As social awareness of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, genderqueer, asexual or aromantic, and other identities expands, we need state policy to keep up. As a start, I strongly support the trans rights bill that has just been passed by the legislature. Before the bills was passed, transgender and gender nonconforming people could legally be denied service by businesses. In 2014, 65% of transgender people surveyed reported being denied service. After the passage of the bill, businesses must treat people of all gender identities equal. Now I also want to make sure our public school curriculum keeps all identities in mind, including those of gender and sexuality, and does not make any child feel different because they do not fit in with strict stereotypes of men and women, which we know are not true for many or even most people.

Protection of LGBTQIA+ youth has become increasingly important. In Massachusetts around 1 in 3 LGBTQIA+ youth attempt suicide, but suicide rates significantly decrease when youth have support of their families and communities. Building community for LGBTQIA+ youth is increasingly important in school. GLSEN (Gay, Lesbian, and Straight Education Network) research in Massachusetts recommends support for Gender Sexuality Alliances, professional development for teachers, and access to LGBTQIA+ friendly curriculum resources to create community and combat bullying. Currently in Massachusetts health education has to be medically accurate and discuss human sexuality, but there are no standards for education about gender and sexuality spectrums. Adding these standards will help create community, support and acceptance for LGBTQIA+ students.

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