TONIGHT ON "GREATER BOSTON,"
PROTECTING THE RIGHTS OF THE
TRANSGENDERED AND HOW IT'S
BECOME A POLITICAL ISSUE.
HOW PATRIOTS DRAFT CHOICE HAS A
HISTORY OF MARIJUANA USE.
SHOULD PLAYERS WHO USE POT BE
TREATED THE SAME AS THOSE USING
STEROIDS?
AND HALL OF FAME JIM COURIER AND
THE CHAMPIONS CUP.
Closed Captioning
brought to you by AFLAC:
Ask about it at work.
>> GOOD EVENING.
ASK A MASSACHUSETTS VOTER WHAT
THEY'RE THINKING ABOUT THESE
DAYS AND THEY'LL PROBABLY ANSWER
"JOBS" OR TAXES BUT NOW AN
UNEXPECTED SUBJECT.
THE RIGHTS OF TRANSGENDER
CITIZENS HAS BECOME A SHARP
SOURCE OF POLITICAL DEBATE.
PRO-- PROPONENTS OF THE BILL SAY
IT EXTENDS RIGHTS, OPPONENTS SAY
IT WOULD ALLOW ANYONE DRESSED AS
THE OPPOSITE SEX TO USE THE
PUBLIC FACILITY OF THEIR CHOICE.
>> Emily: BACKERS SAY IT WOULD
MAKE IT ILLEGAL TO DISCRIMINATE.
ACCORDING TO RETIRED FIREFIGHTER
KEN GARBER WHOSE TRANSGENDERED
SON DIED OF AN OVERDOSE AT AGE
20, THAT MEASURE IS LONG
OVERDUE.
>> HE HAD TO GO TO SCHOOL EVERY
DAY TO BE BULLIED AND MADE FUN
OF.
AND I AND MY WIFE, AS PARENTS,
EVERY MORNING WHEN HE DIDN'T
EVEN WANT TO GET UP AND GO TO
SCHOOL, HAD TO KICK HIM OUT OF
THE HOUSE AND SEND HIM INTO
THAT.
AND NOBODY SHOULD HAVE TO DO
THAT.
>> Emily: THE BILL HAS MORE THAN
100 LEGISLATIVE SUPPORTERS AND A
POWERFUL SPONSOR IN STATE
SENATOR RICHARD TISEI, THE
REPUBLICAN NOMINEE FOR
LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR, BUT TISEI'S
RUNNING MATE, G.O.P.
GUBERNATORIAL CANDIDATE CHARLIE
BAKER HAS VOWED TO VETO IT.
ASKED IF HE WOULD TRY TO CHANGE
BAKER'S MIND, TISEI SAID MAYBE.
>> I THINK HE APPRECIATED THE
FACT THAT I DO HAVE OPINIONS ON
THINGS AND I'LL SHARE MY
OPINIONS WITH HIM AS WE GO ALONG
AND ISSUES COME UP.
>> Emily: STATE TREASURER TIM
CAHILL RUNNING FOR GOVERNOR AS
AN INDEPENDENT HAS PROMISED TO
VETO THE BILL BUT DEMOCRATIC
GOVERNOR DEVAL PATRICK IS A
VOCAL ALLY.
GOOD NEWS FOR MARION FRIEDMAN
GERSPAN WHO WANTS HER
TRANSGENDERED DAUGHTER TO HAVE
THE SAME OPPORTUNITIES AS
ANYBODY ELSE.
>> WHAT MY HUSBAND AND I WANT
FOR RAIF I ARE THE SAME THINGS
THAT OTHER PARENTS WANT THEIR
CHILDREN AND YOUNG ADULTS WANT
FOR THEMSELVES.
A JOB, A PLACE TO LIVE, AN
OPPORTUNITY TO GO OUT TO
RESTAURANTS OR CLUBS OF THEIR
CHOICE.
>> Emily: THE TRANSGENDERED BILL
BECOMES LAW COULD DEPEND ON HOW
EFFECTIVELY ADVOCATES COULD GET
THE MESSAGE OUT.
WITH ME ARE MARCIA AND KEN
GARBER WHOSE SON STRUGGLED
THROUGH HIGH SCHOOL TRYING TO
GET SUPPORT AS A TRANSGENDER.
HE DIED LAST YEAR OF AN OVERDOSE
AT THE AGE OF 20.
DEDE HENDERSON, POLITICAL
DIRECTOR OF MASS EQUALITY.
WELCOME.
WE LISTENED TO YOUR TESTIMONY
AND, OF COURSE, I READ THE OPEN
LETTER THAT YOUR SON WROTE IN
THE FINAL YEARS OF HIS LIFE.
HE WAS BORN A GIRL.
WHAT HAPPENED?
AT WHAT POINT DID HE COME TO
YOU?
BECAUSE YOU SAID YOU WERE
SUPPORTIVE OF HIM ALL ALONG.
WHEN DID THE TRANSPORTATION TAKE
PLACE?
OR DID YOU RECOGNIZE IT RIGHT
AWAY?
>> HE DIDN'T ACTUALLY TRANSITION
TO MALE UNTIL AS A JUNIOR IN
HIGH SCHOOL, BUT WE KNEW FROM
SECOND OR THIRD GRADE ON THAT HE
WAS DIFFERENT.
HE ALWAYS CUT HIS HAIR LIKE A
BOY.
ALWAYS WORE BOYS' CLOTHES.
HE NEVER WORE A DRESS.
HE WAS A GOOD ATHLETE.
SO WE KNEW EARLY ON THAT HE WAS
DIFFERENT.
DURING MIDDLE SCHOOL IT WAS --
THEY STARTED CALLING HIM A
LESBIAN.
>> Emily: HE ADDRESSED THAT,
HE'S NOT A LESBIAN, HE'S
ATTRACTED TO GIRLS BECAUSE HE'S
A MALE.
>> THAT'S WHAT HE DID.
HE SPOKE LIKE THAT.
IT WAS FINALLY AFTER WE HAD
GOTTEN HIM SOME PROFESSIONAL
HELP, WE HAD GONE THROUGH THREE
OR FOUR DIFFERENT THERAPISTS
UNTIL WE FOUND SOMEBODY THAT
ACTUALLY UNDERSTOOD, AND HE WAS
IN THERAPY FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS
BEFORE THE THERAPIST ACTUALLY
SAID, "YOU KNOW, THAT HE WAS
TRANSGENDERED" AND HE WAS READY
TO ZGDZ.
>> Emily: LISTENING TO YOUR --
AND HE WAS READY TO TRANSITION.
>> Emily: I CAN'T HELP BUT
WONDER WHAT YOU THINK THE BILL
COULD POSSIBLY DO.
KIDS ARE GOING TO BE MEAN, AND
HORRIBLE, AND BULLY.
WOULD A BILL PROTECT -- HAVE
PROTECTED YOUR SON FROM THAT
KIND OF BEHAVIOR IN A SCHOOL?
>> I THINK THAT THE BILL GIVES
CREDENCE TO THE ISSUES THAT GO
ON FOR FOLKS IN THE
TRANSGENDERED COMMUNITY AND
ANYBODY WHO IS GENDER VARIANT
BECAUSE THERE ARE -- TRANSGENDER
IS JUST AN UMBRELLA TERM, AND
THERE ARE GENDER-VARIANT
CHILDREN, AND PEOPLE, WHO DON'T
NECESSARILY TOTALLY TRANSITION
INTO ONE GENDER OR ANOTHER.
IT'S MORE ON A SPECTRUM, GENDER
IDENTITY, SO I THINK THAT THE
BILL -- AS FAR AS MY SON, I
THINK THAT, YES, IF THERE WAS
LEGISLATION THAT ADDRESSED
DISCRIMINATION, THAT IT ALMOST
GIVES MORE CREDENCE -- I DON'T
KNOW IF I SAID THAT ALREADY, BUT
HE DEFINITELY EXPERIENCED
DISCRIMINATION WHEN HE WENT TO
GET A JOB.
>> Emily: IT WOULD HAVE BEEN A
RECOGNIZED --
>> YES.
>> Emily: THAT'S WHAT I WANT TO
ASK DEE DEE ABOUT, I THINK
EVERYBODY CAN IDENTIFY WITH THE
IDEA OF DISCRIMINATION AGAINST
SOMEBODY BECAUSE OF SEXUAL
ORIENTATION, IDENTITY AND WHEN
VIOLENCE IS INVOLVED, OF COURSE,
BUT BEING A SEPARATE CLASS IN
THE WORKPLACE IS -- I THINK
PEOPLE WONDER DO WE NEED A
SECOND PLACE?
DO WE NEED A SECOND CLASS FOR
ANY KIND OF DISORDER?
OBESITY?
AHSBERGER'S?
DO WE NEED A SEPARATE --
OBESITY?
ASBERGER'S?
>> IF YOU DECIDED TO TRANSGENDER
ON YOUR SHOW -- TO TRANSITION ON
YOUR HOME YOU COULD BE FIRED.
IF YOU DO NOT OWN YOUR HOME, YOU
COULD GO HOME AND YOUR LANDLORD
COULD SAY "I DON'T LIKE THAT.
YOU'RE OUT."
THESE ARE THINGS THAT NEED TO BE
PROTECTED.
>> Emily: EVEN RIGHT NOW, YOU
CAN'T DISCRIMINATE AGAINST
SOMEBODY ON THE BASIS OF SEX.
>> CORRECT, THEIR GENDER AS FAR
AS MALE AND FEMALE, YES, BUT
THAT IS NOT A PROTECTED CATEGORY
UNDER OUR CURRENT LAW FOR GENDER
IDENTITY, SO IT'S A DIFFERENT
TYPE OF PROTECTION FOR PEOPLE
THAT IS NEEDED -- IT IS ACTUALLY
ALREADY LAW IN 13 STATES, 100
DIFFERENT MUNICIPALITIES AS WELL
AS -- CURRENTLY BOSTON,
CAMBRIDGE, NORTHA..ON AND
AMHERST AS WELL.
-- NORTHAMPTON AND AMHERST AS
WELL.
>> Emily: HOW DO YOU RESPOND TO
THE HIGHLY CHARGED POLITICAL
LANGUAGE THAT'S BEING USED TO
DESCRIBE THIS BILL AS THE
BATHROOM BILL, REDUCING IT TO A
SINGLE ISSUE?
HOW DO YOU RESPOND TO THAT?
>> I HATE TO BRING THAT UP
BECAUSE I THINK OPPONENTS --
THAT'S THEIR ONLY ARGUMENT, IS
THE BATHROOM BILL, AND
PEDOPHILES -- THEY MAKE IT SOUND
LIKE THERE IS A LINE OF PEOPLE
AT JORDAN MARSH BASEMENT WAITING
TO BUY FEMALE CLOTHES SO THEY
CAN GO INTO THE BATHROOM AND
MOLEST LITTLE KIDS, AND THAT'S
NOT TRUE.
I GREW UP IN A FAMILY OF EIGHT
AND WE HAD ONE BATHROOM, OK --
THAT'S UNISEX.
I DON'T SEE -- YOU KNOW, I DON'T
REALLY SEE THE BIG ISSUE.
>> Emily: YOU WOULD HAVE TO
CHANGE THE FACILITIES -- FOR
INSTANCE, WOMEN GOING INTO MEN'S
BATHROOMS.
THE URINALS --
>> NO NEW FACILITIES NEED TO BE
CREATED.
>> GO AHEAD, MARCIA.
>> TRANSGENDERED PEOPLE -- OUR
SON WAS USING THE MEN'S ROOM FOR
QUITE SOME TIME BEFORE HE
ACTUALLY BEGAN TO MEDICALLY
TRANSITION.
>> Emily: I THOUGHT YOU WERE
TALKING ABOUT A UNISEX BATHROOM.
>> NO, BUT I MEAN -- PEOPLE THAT
ARE TRANSGENDERED THAT PRESENT
AS FEMALE, HAVE BEEN FOR QUITE
SOME TIME AND LIKEWISE FOR
PEOPLE THAT PRESENT AS MEN, THEY
USE THE MEN'S ROOM, SO THAT'S
BEEN GOING ON, SO IT'S VERY
DEMEANING --
>> Emily: I UNDERSTAND HOW YOU
FEEL, BUT THAT'S -- THE GOVERNOR
IS BRINGING THAT UP.
THE REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE FOR
GOVERNOR HAS BROUGHT THAT UP.
I'M CURIOUS WHY THIS HAS BEEN SO
JAMMED UP IN THE JUDICIARY
COMMITTEE.
>> WITH EVERY BILL IN THE
LEGISLATIVE PROCESS, IT TAKES
TIME.
WE'VE HAD TWO HEARINGS ON THIS
BILL.
THIS IS THE SECOND LEGISLATIVE
SESSION, THREE YEARS, TWO
HEARINGS OVER TWO LEGISLATIVE
CYCLES.
THE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE
HISTORICALLY HAS HAD THE MOST
BILLS OF ANY COMMITTEE IN THE
STATE HOUSE AND A NUMBER OF
BILLS WERE STUDIED.
OURS WAS NOT.
WE WERE PUT IN AN EXTENSION
ORDER TO MAY 9 AND WE WERE
HOPEFUL THAT --
>> Emily: YOU'RE GOING TO TIE IT
TO THE BUDGET?
>> THAT'S ONE OF OUR STRATEGIES,
IS THE BUDGET, BUT AS ALL GOOD
LOBBYING STRATEGIES HAVE, YOU
HAVE MULTILAYERS OF STRATEGIES.
YOU CAN MOVE -- AND MULTIPLE
AVENUES FOR LEGISLATIVE --
GETTING LEGISLATION THROUGH, SO
YOU HAVE THE JUDICIARY
COMMITTEE.
WE HAVE AN EXTENSION ORDER TO
MAY 9.
WE ARE WORKING WITH THE CHAIRS.
WE HAVE PUT FORTH A BUDGET
AMENDMENT -- JUST LAST NIGHT IN
THE HOUSE THERE WAS A PIECE OF
LEGISLATION THAT HAD BEEN FILED
LAST JANUARY WITH JUST PASSING
THE HOUSE BUDGET.
A NUMBER OF REPUBLICAN AND
DEMOCRATIC LEGISLATORS HAVE
FILED LEGISLATION SO THIS IS NOT
A NEW OR UNIQUE STRATEGY --
>> Emily: IN SOME WAYS, YOU MUST
BE HAPPY THIS IS A POLITICAL HOT
POTATO.
IT'S GOTTEN PEOPLE TALKING ABOUT
IT, IT'S GOTTEN MORE ATTENTION,
IT'S BECOME ONE OF THE BIG BIG
SIGNATURE PLATFORM ISSUES OF THE
GUBERNATORIAL RACE SO FAR.
ARE YOU HAPPY ABOUT IT?
EVEN THOUGH THERE IS SOME UGLY
LANGUAGE INVOLVED?
>> I'M HAPPY WITH THE FACT
PEOPLE ARE TALKING ABOUT IT.
I SPENT 30 YEARS AS A
FIREFIGHTER AND YOU KNOW, I
NEVER HAD ANYBODY THAT I WORKED
WITH COME UP AND ASK ME --
ALTHOUGH PEOPLE KNEW, BUT THEY
NEVER ASKED ME ANY QUESTIONS.
>> Emily: ABOUT YOUR SON?
>> ABOUT MY SON.
TO ME, IT WAS -- I HAD TO LISTEN
TO ALL THE STORIES OF THE SONS
OF THE GUYS PLAYING SPORTS AND
FINALLY TO ONE -- TO ONE PERSON,
I FINALLY HAD ENOUGH AND SAID,
"BUT MY SON WAS THE BRAVEST
PERSON THAT I EVER -- THAT I
KNEW" BECAUSE HE DID -- YOU
KNOW, HE DIDN'T -- HEAR WHAT
OTHER PEOPLE THOUGHT.
HE WANTED TO BE WHO HE WAS, AND
I WOULD PAT HIM ON THE BACK.
>> Emily: KEN AND MARCIA GARBER,
THANKS SO MUCH FOR COMING
TONIGHT, DEE DEE EDMONDSON.
WHEN WE CONTINUE, POT SMOKING
AND PROFESSIONAL SPORTS.