Massachusetts House passes transgender bill

A supporter of the transgender rights bill. — (Image credit: Twitter.com/BostonDotCom)

On Wednesday, the Massachusetts House of Representatives passed a bill that would allow people to use the bathrooms and locker rooms that match their gender identity.

The vote was 116-36, and came after a six-hour debate. The bill also would protect transgender people from discrimination in malls, restaurants, libraries, and other public accommodations. The House's version of the bill is different from one passed earlier by the Senate, The Boston Globe reports, and Gov. Charlie Baker (R) has announced he will sign a version of the bill. Critics say the bill would allow men to pretend to be transgender women in order to gain access to restrooms and locker rooms, while supporters say those fears are unfounded.

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Catherine Garcia has worked as a senior writer at The Week since 2014. Her writing and reporting have appeared in Entertainment Weekly, The New York Times, Wirecutter, NBC News and "The Book of Jezebel," among others. She's a graduate of the University of Redlands and the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism.