Massachusetts House Passes Controversial Transgender Bill

The Massachusetts House of Representatives on Wednesday passed a controversial bill that would provide explicit protections for transgender people in public places.

Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker said Tuesday that he would sign such a bill into law if it reached his desk. His support for the bill runs counter to the opinions of many conservative leaders embroiled in a growing national battle over transgender bathroom access.

Outside the House chamber, opponents of the bill shouted, “Shame on you!” when it passed, while supporters cheered, according to the Boston Globe.

The bill, which already passed in the Massachusetts Senate, would allow people to use restrooms and locker rooms that match their gender identity. It would also protect the rights of transgender people against discrimination in other public accommodations.

The bill passed by a vote of 116 to 36 after hours of heated arguments over what kind of impact the law would have. The House version of the bill is different from the Senate version, and the two will need to be reconciled, the Boston Globe reported.