Death threats directed at Massachusetts Commission on Status of Women appointee

A new appointee to the Massachusetts Commission on the Status of Women received overt death threats this weekend and has been subjected to a vicious online attack according to a report by the commission Giselle Byrd the first African American trans woman to serve on the MCSW was appointed in August by Gov Maura Healey but this weekend news of Byrd s appointment circulated right-wing publications according to the commission The Herald released Monday that one state legislator Rep Alyson Sullivan-Almeida R- th Plymouth was unhappy with the decision Why on earth would the governor think anyone but a biological woman would make any sense Sullivan-Almeida narrated the Herald This appointment makes no sense Healey s office and the commission both emphasized that Byrd is not the first transgender voice on the commission with former Gov Charlie Baker a Republican appointing a transgender woman to the MCSW in We stand in outrage with our fellow Commissioner Byrd and remain committed to protecting the safety of not only our state and regional commissioners but of every marginalized individual threatened by violence both online and in person the commission explained in a report referencing Byrd s qualifications and history of activism and leadership The commission mentioned Byrd s safety as well as the safety of the transgender society as a whole was critical calling for greater promotion for the locality amid a national campaign of hateful anti-trans ordinance and an alarming pattern of murders of trans women Our mission announcement is clear to promote fundamental freedoms basic human rights and the full enjoyment of life for ALL the commission explained Massachusetts is a place where we believe that fundamental human rights are for everyone The commission also pointed out the irony of the online attacks arriving during Trans Visibility Week and the International Day of Tolerance The MCSW is an independent state agency with a mission to promote rights and opportunities for all women and girls The state website says it recognizes all women regardless of their age race color creed abilities language socio-economic status immigration status sexual orientation or gender assigned at birth Established in the commission is composed of all-volunteer members appointed by the governor Senate President Speaker of the House and the Caucus of Women Legislators Byrd serves as the executive director of The Theater Offensive in Boston the first Black transgender woman to lead a regional theater according to her bio