Time for Gay Marriage Activists to Stand Up for Trans Community in New England

In the midst of the many changes Boston’s LGBT community has seen over the past few decades Boston Pride has remained an enduring community tradition. This year, however, the focus of Pride is on change itself. The theme of this year’s Boston Pride, which kicked off June 5 with the ceremonial Pride flag raising at City Hall and runs through June 14, is "Trans-forming our community." Broadly speaking, the theme calls for people to work to transform their communities by fighting for justice, fairness and inclusion. But the theme also refers to a very specific goal, one often sidelined by the LGBT community: fairness and inclusion for the transgender community. The timing of such a theme is particularly significant: on July 14, the legislature’s Joint Committee on the Judiciary will hear testimony on House Bill 1728, which would add transgender-inclusive language to the state’s non-discrimination and hate crimes laws. Kristie Helms, a board member of the Pride Committee, said in addition to the festivities people normally associate with Pride the committee hopes the events foster discussion about the need to advocate for transgender rights and transgender inclusion. As an example, she cited Pride Committee vice president Keri Aulita’s words during the flag raising, where she told attendees, "It’s about time that we stand up and stand behind our trans families, our transgender allies and friends and colleagues and coworkers and neighbors," and Boston City Council President Mike Ross’s speech, in which he talked about the passage of a transgender rights ordinance in the city in 2002. Full Story from Bay Windows

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