House Passes Bills Protecting and Commemorating Women

Natick MA

18 March, 2022

11:45 AM

Description

BOSTON – Representative David P. Linsky (D-Natick), joined his colleagues in the Massachusetts House of Representatives in passing legislation that would prohibit discrimination based on natural and protective hairstyles. Marking March as Women's History Month, the House also passed legislation that would create a Women's Rights History Trail program promoting education and awareness of the struggle for women's rights in Massachusetts. "I was proud to join my colleagues in the House to ban discrimination based on natural and protective hairstyles in our schools, places of work, housing, and public accommodations. Bans on natural hairstyles are racist, and prohibiting these discriminatory policies is the right decision," said Representative Linsky "Additionally, by creating a Women's Rights History Trail program, the House is memorializing the struggle for women's rights and suffrage in Massachusetts. I thank Chairs Day and Fiola, as well as Representatives Ultrino, Tyler, and Kane for their efforts to advance these pieces of legislation." The CROWN Act H.4554, An Act prohibiting discrimination based on natural and protective hairstyles, would define natural hairstyle in statute, prohibit discrimination in schools, employment, housing, and business, and ban school policies that restrict natural and protective hairstyles. This legislation would also expand criminal law prohibiting assault and battery for purposes of intimidation to include natural hairstyle and adds natural hairstyle to hate crime data collection and reporting requirements. It was approved by the House of Representatives 155-0. Women's History Trail H.4555, An Act relative to the creation of a women's rights history trail, would require the secretary of the Massachusetts Department of Transportation, in conjunction with the executive director or the Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism to develop and implement a Women's Rights History Trail program that designates properties and sites as historically and thematically associated with the struggle for women's rights and suffrage. The Women's Rights History Trail Task Force would research, solicit public input, and make recommendations for sites, properties, and attractions to be included in the Women's Rights History Trail program. The legislation was approved by the House of Representatives 154-0. Both bills now go to the Senate for their consideration. ###