Public Participation

Transcript (~6 min @ 0:20)

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▶ 0:18 John N. Tramontozzi: And a motion to open the floor for public participation, if you will.

▶ 0:22 Francis X. Wright Jr.: We have a motion for public participation by Alderman Tramontozzi, seconded by Alderman Inferna.

▶ 0:30 Speaker 1: All in favor?

▶ 0:31 Speaker 2: Aye.

▶ 0:34 Francis X. Wright Jr.: Is there anyone in the public who would like to come forward on the one item that is on our agenda tonight, which is an order to amend Melrose Revised Ordinances, Chapter 15, Section 10, Human Rights Commission, Section 1550 policy statement set forth herein.

▶ 0:54 Speaker 3: Good evening.

▶ 0:55 Francis X. Wright Jr.: Could you state your name and your address?

▶ 0:58 Speaker 4: Sure. Elizabeth DeSelm, 33A South High Street. I am a Melrose Human Rights Commissioner, and I am speaking before you on behalf of the Human Rights Commission.

▶ 1:13 Speaker 4: So I enter in a letter that has been given to Alderman Byrd. I'm going to read that letter now. Dear Alderman Byrd and members of the committee, Thank you for this opportunity to testify in support of this bill amending Article 10, Section 15-50 of the Melrose City Code to include gender identity and gender expression. This crucial piece of legislation will provide many of our residents with necessary protections from discrimination in several key areas, including employment, housing, city services, and health care. Transgender people are frequently confronted with discrimination in America, including Massachusetts. There are presently no broad protections on the basis of gender identity or expression under the federal law, although on Wednesday, December 3rd, the U.S. Department of Labor announced its final rule prohibiting federal contractors and subcontractors from discriminating on the basis of gender identity. At a local level, a growing number of states and municipalities prohibit this type of discrimination, but coverage is spotty and often not enforced. In 2011, Massachusetts became only the 16th state to add non-discrimination laws for gender identity, specifically in the areas of education, housing, K-12 public education, and credit. This legislation expands upon that protection. If passed, Melrose would become the 10th municipality in Melrose, or in Massachusetts, to provide the comprehensive protection that is necessary. According to the 2009 National Transgender Discrimination Survey by the National Center for Transgender Equality and National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, some of the many issues confronted by transgender people include double the rate of unemployment, near universal mistreatment on the job. Ninety-seven percent report harassment and mistreatment at their place of employment. 47% report adverse employment actions, including termination, denial of promotions, and refusal to hire. 58% report verbal harassment in places of public accommodation, including libraries, hospitals, and health clinics, hotels, airports, restaurants, stores, public transportation, homeless shelters, and government agencies.

▶ 3:55 Speaker 4: 22% report denial of equal treatment by government officials and 24% report harassment by police officers including 50% reporting discomfort with even seeking police assistance when needed. Transgender and gender non-conforming people often experience discrimination in their communities including being refused service, being treated differently than their non-transgender peers, or being victims to physical and verbal harm when simply trying to carry out their daily activities. This legislation will afford all our residents a measure of legal recourse in the face of such discrimination. Moros has a long history of respecting and protecting all of its residents, including the residents' election of openly LGBT representatives, the city's enactment in 1991 of the original language of section 15-50 declaring its support and protection of the human rights of all persons in Melrose and the equal protection and opportunity of its residents in the many facets of their lives and establishment in 1991 of the Melrose Human Rights Commission to uphold and secure the mandates rights and privileges of the city's policy passage of this bill updates our city's policy as to the matter of same-sex orientation and will now properly include recognition and protection of transgender and gender non-conforming people. The Human Rights Commission supports this bill unanimously and will continue to work to uphold and secure the rights and privileges of everyone in Melrose. We appreciate your time and attention to these matters and need to ensure a safer more just society for all Melroseans, regardless of their gender identity. We ask that you support this legislation and include Melrose in the vanguard of those raising the standards for protection of all people. Thank you, the Melrose Human Rights Commissioners, Karen Andrews, Maureen Busby, Liz DeSelm, Michelle Dickinson, Rabbi Arnie Fertig, Matt Hellman, Reverend Beth Horn, Adam LaFrance, sean mcmaster christina petulis ed schmidt and jen thompson and i thank you for your time thank you

▶ 6:24 Peter D. Mortimer: motion to close public participation mr chairman second the motion to close public participation

▶ 6:29 Francis X. Wright Jr.: seeing nobody else interested in coming forward public participation is closed