On Thursday the Massachusetts Senate is scheduled to begin debate on adding protections for transgender people in public accommodations to the 2011 anti-discrimination law that bans discrimination in the workplace and in housing.

There is no justification on earth for discrimination against anyone who wants to go to park, movie theater, doctor’s office, restaurant or a gym,” said Deborah Shields, executive director of MassEquality, an organization that has vocally supported the bill. “It’s unconscionable that in 2016 discrimination would be permitted.

--Deborah Shields, MassEquality

House and Senate versions of the bill were recently released from committee. Both versions would prohibit discrimination against transgender people in public accommodations, allowing them to use locker rooms and restrooms consistent with their gender identity.

While supporters of the bill say it would provide important protections to transgender people, opponents of the legislation have argued it could subject women and children to voyeurs and sexual predators.

We don’t think the Massachusetts Legislature should eliminate protections to women and children who expect public restrooms and locker rooms to remain lawfully sex segregated.

--Andrew Beckwith, Massachusetts Family Institute

Shields called the argument “ludicrous” and said opponents “need to get their minds out of the gutter.”

Pedophiles and sex offenders have nothing to do with transgender people.

Bathrooms can be very unsafe because it’s usually the trans person who ends up being assaulted.

--Shields

What would be useful is a means of avoiding penalizing one group of people because of the potential actions of a separate group.

Seeking to avoid the pitfalls encountered by North Carolina, Massachusetts Legislators have redrafted the bill to include language concerning anyone who would falsely claim gender identity for nefarious purposes.

,Senate Bill 735 would allow the state attorney general to provide “guidance or regulations” to law enforcement about legal action against “any person who asserts gender identity for an improper purpose.”

That wasn't so difficult, was it?

Governor Baker believes no one should be discriminated against based on gender identity and appreciates the added clarity that the House's revisions provide into how the provision would be implemented across the Commonwealth. He has encouraged the transgender community to continue advocating for their beliefs and supports the 2011 transgender protections, and will carefully review a bill should the legislature act. Governor Baker is pleased that Massachusetts public schools adhere to policies that accommodate transgender students’ needs and believes employers should also accommodate transgender individuals’ needs.

--Elizabeth Guyton, Baker's press secretary

[W]e are concerned that language added in committee puts law abiding members of the transgender community at risk of improper law enforcement even though we know that is not the intention.

The legislative process is very dynamic and we look forward to continuing to work with lawmakers. We are aware that every day that goes by without explicit protections, transgender people face discrimination and harm, and we look forward to this bill becoming law as soon as possible.

--Carly Burton, Freedom Massachusetts