City Council support of S.2213, An Act Relative to Gender Identity on Massachusetts Identification

City of Cambridge O-1 ORIGINAL ORDER IN CITY COUNCIL June 17, 2019 MAYOR MCGOVERN COUNCILLOR SIMMONS WHEREAS: Cambridge strives to be a welcoming city for all, including our transgender and gender non-binary friends and neighbors; and WHEREAS: Cities across the Commonwealth have already moved forward in proposing and enacting regulation that allows for a gender X option on a birth record; and WHEREAS: The City Council has made progress in offering a third gender category, and removing barriers for residents born in this city to amend their birth certificates; and WHEREAS: Bill S.2213, “An Act Relative to Gender Identity on Massachusetts Identification” would permit parents or legal guardians to request the sex indicated on their child’s record of birth be designated as “X” for the child’s gender in lieu of “male” or “female;” and WHEREAS: A person over the age of eighteen, an emancipated minor, or the parents of a minor may request a change in the sex on a birth record to include, but not be limited to “female,” “male,” “X,” with an “X” designation indicating nonbinary, intersex, undesignated, or other gender; and WHEREAS: The Registry of Motor Vehicles shall permit a person submitting an application under certain sections, to designate “X,” “M,” or “F” for gender on an application for a driver’s license, learner’s permit, identification card, or liquor purchase identification card; no documentation shall be required for such a designation; and WHEREAS: The Secretary of Administration and Finance shall develop a plan to ensure that any state form or document issued by a state agency that requires an individual to indicate the individual’s gender shall provide an opportunity for the individual to choose a gender option other than male or female; provided that the secretary shall ensure that such a form or document complies with applicable federal rules and regulations; and WHEREAS: Bill S.2213 passed the senate in April 2019, and was referred to the House Ways and Means Committee; and WHEREAS: A statewide bill would encourage acceptance and inclusion for our transgender and non-binary neighbors; now therefore be it

ORDERED: That the City Council go on record in strong support of enacting Bill S.2213 “An Act Relative to Gender Identity on Massachusetts Identification,” and urge the House Ways and Means Committee to advance the bill with a favorable recommendation as soon as possible, and that a suitably engrossed copy of this resolution be sent to the Cambridge state delegation on behalf of the entire City Council.