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When Being A Republican Means Supporting Transgender Rights

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Governor Charlie Baker Wednesday night responded to LGBT activists who pushed him on his lack of support for the Transgender Public Accommodations Bill. (Hadley Green for WBUR)
Governor Charlie Baker Wednesday night responded to LGBT activists who pushed him on his lack of support for the Transgender Public Accommodations Bill. (Hadley Green for WBUR)

Gov. Charlie Baker finds himself locked in a heated debate about the Transgender Public Accommodations Bill pending on Beacon Hill. The governor hasn't yet said if he supports the bill.

Wednesday night at the Boston Spirit LGBT Executive Networking Night, activists and LGBT leaders pushed the governor about his reluctance.

"You have my commitment tonight that if and when the bill gets to my desk, I will make sure I talk to all parties involved before we make any decisions," the governor said to the packed room. After more pressure, Baker wrapped up and left the stage amid boos from the crowd.

Just about everyone has an opinion on how the governor should handle this, including Jordan Evans. She is transgender, and a Republican. She recently wrote an open letter to Gov. Baker in Commonwealth Magazine, urging him to support the bill because being a Republican compels him to do so.

Guest

Jordan Evans, library trustee for Charlton and Republican member of her local registrar of voters. She tweets @jordarooski.

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Commonwealth Magazine: A Transgender Republican Appeals To Baker

  • "The truth is, governor, I’ve found the average Republican is increasingly borrowing from the libertarian handbook when it comes to social issues. This humanistic outlook on what other people do with their own life is a trait that I respect and admire within the party, which is why your reluctance to defend the rights of our transgender citizens to live authentically confuses me. How can we claim we’re for protecting the safety and freedoms of the individual when we’ve become complicit in letting our society create a caste of second class citizens?"

WBUR: Transgender Public Accommodations Bill Remains Stalled In Mass. Legislature

  • "As North Carolina faces backlash over the approval of a bill that blocks local governments from passing anti-discrimination rules to protect gay and transgender people, a bill to expand legal protections for those populations here in Massachusetts remains bottled up in a legislative committee."

WBUR: Baker Booed At LGBT Event Over Transgender Bill

  • "Gov. Charlie Baker was heckled and booed at an LGBT event Wednesday night when he failed to commit to legislation that would protect the rights of transgender people in public spaces. Baker’s speech to hundreds of people at the 10th Annual Boston Spirit LGBT Executive Networking Night ended early when he walked off the stage and he did not mingle with the crowd after, as organizers had hoped."

This segment aired on April 14, 2016.

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