Mason J. Dunn

Last updated
Mason J. Dunn
Mason J. Dunn.jpg
Born1985
Southern California
Education University of New Hampshire School of Law
Occupation(s)Attorney, Educator, & LGBTQ+ Rights Advocate
EmployerMassachusetts LGBT Chamber of Commerce
Known for Transgender Activism
Website https://malgbtcc.org/about/team/mason-dunn/

Mason J. Dunn (born 1985) is an American lawyer, educator, and LGBTQ+ rights advocate based in Massachusetts (MA). Dunn is known for their long-standing work in transgender rights and public policy, including co-chairing the "Yes on 3" campaign, which successfully preserved transgender protections in MA's public accommodations law. They currently serve as the Director of Education and Research at the Massachusetts LGBT Chamber of Commerce, where they provide inclusivity training and resources for businesses across the state. Dunn is a nonbinary, trans masculine, and bisexual/queer identifying Jewish person who uses he/him or they/them pronouns. [1] [2]

Contents

Early life and education

Dunn is originally from Southern California. Assigned female at birth, Dunn had experienced challenges related to gender identity throughout adolescence. As an 18-year-old undergraduate student, Dunn discovered that the term "transgender" provided a framework for understanding his experiences. [3] After encountering a lack of awareness about transgender and gender-nonconforming identities among faculty and staff, Dunn conducted research on these topics and began lecturing in various university courses. His advocacy expanded to launching a Safe Zone project, leading the campus Gay-Straight Alliance, and collaborating with statewide student advocacy groups. [4] [5] During this time, Dunn also experienced difficulty accessing trans-competent healthcare resources, including mental health support and treatment for severe endometriosis, which became life-threatening after he was repeatedly denied a hysterectomy. [6]

Dunn eventually relocated to New England and attended the University of New Hampshire (UNH) School of Law, graduating in 2012 with his JD. At UNH, Dunn was part of the Daniel Webster Scholar Honors Program, which provided practical legal training, and completed internships with the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of New Hampshire and the New Hampshire Human Rights Commission. [7] Dunn is a licensed attorney and a member of the New Hampshire Bar Association. [8]

Career and activism

Dunn has been involved in LGBTQ+ advocacy for over 15 years, with a particular focus on advancing gender equity. [7] In 2013, they became the Executive Director of the Massachusetts Transgender Political Coalition. In this role, Dunn advocated for non-discrimination protections, including the 2016 addition of public accommodations to MA's civil rights laws. [1] [9] [10]

In 2018, Dunn co-chaired the “Yes on 3” campaign, which successfully defended MA's trans-inclusive public accommodations law through a statewide referendum in the nation's first ever statewide vote on transgender rights. [11] [12] [13] Following this, he joined Keshet in 2019 as the organization’s first Director of Advocacy, focusing on intersectional LGBTQ+ rights within the Jewish community​. [14] [15] From 2020-2023, Dunn served as the Deputy Director of the Division of Education and Training at Fenway Health's National LGBTQIA+ Health Education Center. [16] In 2023, Dunn joined the Massachusetts LGBT Chamber of Commerce as Director of Education and Research, overseeing LGBTQ+ inclusivity training for businesses​. [1] [7] [17]

Dunn is an adjunct faculty member at the University of New Hampshire, where they teach in the Communications Department. Dunn also serves on the boards of The Equality Federation and the Massachusetts LGBTQ Youth Commission, and is the vice-chair of the Tewksbury Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee. [1] [18]

Honors and awards

Dunn has received several awards in recognition of their LGBTQ+ advocacy, including:

See also

Related Research Articles

GLSEN is an American education organization working to end discrimination, harassment, and bullying based on sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression and to prompt LGBT cultural inclusion and awareness in K-12 schools. Founded in 1990 in Boston, Massachusetts, the organization is now headquartered in New York City and has an office of public policy based in Washington, D.C.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Egale Canada</span> Canadian charity

Egale Canada is a Canadian charity founded in 1986 by Les McAfee to advance equality for Canadian lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBTQ) people and their families, across Canada.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">National Center for Transgender Equality</span> U.S. nonprofit organization

The National Center for Transgender Equality (NCTE) is a nonprofit social equality organization founded in 2003 by transgender activist Mara Keisling in Washington, D.C. The organization works primarily in the areas of policy advocacy and media activism with the aim of advancing the equality of transgender people in the United States. Among other transgender-related issue areas, NCTE focuses on discrimination in employment, access to public accommodations, fair housing, identity documents, hate crimes and violence, criminal justice reform, federal research surveys and the Census, and health care access.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">LGBTQ rights in the United States</span>

The rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) people in the United States are among the most advanced in the world, with public opinion and jurisprudence changing significantly since the late 1980s.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Massachusetts Transgender Political Coalition</span>

The 'Massachusetts Transgender Political Coalition (MTPC) is an organization dedicated to ending discrimination on the basis of gender identity and gender expression. The MTPC educates the public, lobbies state and local government, and encourages political activism.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">LGBTQ rights in New Hampshire</span>

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) people in the U.S. state of New Hampshire enjoy the same rights as non-LGBTQ people, with most advances in LGBT rights occurring in the state within the past two decades. Same-sex sexual activity is legal in New Hampshire, and the state began offering same-sex couples the option of forming a civil union on January 1, 2008. Civil unions offered most of the same protections as marriages with respect to state law, but not the federal benefits of marriage. Same-sex marriage in New Hampshire has been legally allowed since January 1, 2010, and one year later New Hampshire's civil unions expired, with all such unions converted to marriages. New Hampshire law has also protected against discrimination based on sexual orientation since 1998 and gender identity since 2018. Additionally, a conversion therapy ban on minors became effective in the state in January 2019. In effect since January 1, 2024, the archaic common-law "gay panic defence" was formally abolished; by legislation implemented within August 2023.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">LGBTQ movements in the United States</span>

LGBTQ movements in the United States comprise an interwoven history of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer social movements in the United States of America, beginning in the early 20th century. A commonly stated goal among these movements is social equality for LGBTQ people. Some have also focused on building LGBTQ communities or worked towards liberation for the broader society from biphobia, homophobia, and transphobia. LGBTQ movements organized today are made up of a wide range of political activism and cultural activity, including lobbying, street marches, social groups, media, art, and research. Sociologist Mary Bernstein writes:

For the lesbian and gay movement, then, cultural goals include challenging dominant constructions of masculinity and femininity, homophobia, and the primacy of the gendered heterosexual nuclear family (heteronormativity). Political goals include changing laws and policies in order to gain new rights, benefits, and protections from harm.

In the United States, the rights of transgender people vary considerably by jurisdiction. In recent decades, there has been an expansion of federal, state, and local laws and rulings to protect transgender Americans; however, many rights remain unprotected, and some rights are being eroded. Since 2020, there has been a national movement by conservative/right-wing politicians and organizations to target transgender rights. There has been a steady increase in the number of anti-transgender bills introduced each year, especially in Republican-led states.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">LGBTQ rights in Florida</span>

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBTQ) people in the U.S. state of Florida have federal protections, but many face legal difficulties on the state level that are not experienced by non-LGBT residents. Same-sex sexual activity became legal in the state after the U.S. Supreme Court's decision in Lawrence v. Texas on June 26, 2003, although the state legislature has not repealed its sodomy law. Same-sex marriage has been legal in the state since January 6, 2015. Discrimination on account of sexual orientation and gender identity in employment, housing and public accommodations is outlawed following the U.S. Supreme Court's ruling in Bostock v. Clayton County. In addition, several cities and counties, comprising about 55 percent of Florida's population, have enacted anti-discrimination ordinances. These include Jacksonville, Miami, Tampa, Orlando, St. Petersburg, Tallahassee and West Palm Beach, among others. Conversion therapy is also banned in a number of cities in the state, mainly in the Miami metropolitan area, but has been struck down by the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals. In September 2023, Lake Worth Beach, Florida became an official "LGBT sanctuary city" to protect and defend LGBT rights.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">LGBTQ rights in Massachusetts</span>

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) people in the U.S. state of Massachusetts enjoy the same rights as non-LGBTQ people. The U.S. state of Massachusetts is one of the most LGBTQ-supportive states in the country. In 2004, it became the first U.S. state to grant marriage licenses to same-sex couples after the decision in Goodridge v. Department of Public Health, and the sixth jurisdiction worldwide, after the Netherlands, Belgium, Ontario, British Columbia, and Quebec.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">LGBTQ rights in New York</span>

The U.S. state of New York has generally been seen as socially liberal in regard to lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBTQ) rights. LGBT travel guide Queer in the World states, "The fabulosity of Gay New York is unrivaled on Earth, and queer culture seeps into every corner of its five boroughs". The advocacy movement for LGBT rights in the state has been dated as far back as 1969 during the Stonewall riots in New York City. Same-sex sexual activity between consenting adults has been legal since the New York v. Onofre case in 1980. Same-sex marriage has been legal statewide since 2011, with some cities recognizing domestic partnerships between same-sex couples since 1998. Discrimination protections in credit, housing, employment, education, and public accommodation have explicitly included sexual orientation since 2003 and gender identity or expression since 2019. Transgender people in the state legally do not have to undergo sex reassignment surgery to change their sex or gender on official documents since 2014. In addition, both conversion therapy on minors and the gay and trans panic defense have been banned since 2019. Since 2021, commercial surrogacy has been legally available within New York State. In 2024, the Constitution of New York was amended to explicitly ban discrimination on the basis of gender identity and sexual orientation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Athlete Ally</span> American LGBTQ athletic advocacy group

Athlete Ally is a nonprofit LGBTQ athletic advocacy group based in the United States. The group aims to make athletic communities more inclusive and less discriminatory and helping athletes to advocate for LGBTQ equality.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sarah McBride</span> American politician and transgender rights activist (born 1990)

Sarah Elizabeth McBride is an American activist and politician who is the U.S. representative-elect for Delaware's at-large congressional district. She has been a Democratic member of the Delaware Senate since January 2021. She was previously the national press secretary of the Human Rights Campaign. She won in the November 2020 election in the 1st Delaware State Senate district. As the first openly transgender state senator in the country, she is the highest-ranking transgender elected official in United States history.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">LGBTQ culture in Boston</span>

Boston is a hub of LGBT culture and LGBT activism in the United States, with a rich history dating back to the election of the nation's first openly gay state representative, Elaine Noble, in 1974. The city is home to notable organizations like GLAD and Fenway Health, and it played a pivotal role in the legalization of same-sex marriage in Massachusetts. Various neighborhoods, including the South End, are known for their sizable LGBT populations, while numerous LGBT bars and entertainment venues offer spaces for community gatherings. Boston hosts an annual Pride Parade, and despite challenges, it continues to be a prominent event. Noteworthy organizations like The Welcoming Committee and the Boston Gay Men's Chorus contribute to the city's vibrant LGBT community, while The History Project preserves its rich history through an extensive LGBTQ archive.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Massachusetts Gender Identity Anti-Discrimination Initiative</span>

The Massachusetts Gender Identity Anti-Discrimination Initiative is a state-wide referendum passed by Massachusetts voters in the 6 November 2018 mid-term election that prohibits discrimination in public accommodations on the basis of gender identity. The vote upholds language which was already present in the state anti-discrimination statute, defeating an attempt to veto it by public referendum. It is the first state-wide anti-discrimination statute passed by referendum supporting transgender rights in the United States.

Transhealth, Inc. is an American independent and comprehensive trans healthcare center that services trans and gender-diverse individuals and families. Transhealth was founded in Western Massachusetts in 2021 to provide clinical care, research, advocacy, and education related to gender-affirming healthcare.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dallas Ducar</span> American CEO, writer, and advocate

Dallas Ducar is an entrepreneur, advocate, and healthcare leader. Most recently she was the founding chief executive officer (CEO) of Transhealth opening the first ‘independent, comprehensive’ transgender health center. She is a Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing, a nurse practitioner, and healthcare executive. Her writing has appeared in the Boston Globe, the Hill, Newsweek, and STAT among other outlets. She has been featured on major media outlets including MSNBC, NBC, NPR, Reuters, and Radio Boston.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chastity Bowick</span> American social justice activist (born 1985)

Chastity Bowick is a prominent transgender health advocate and social justice activist based in Massachusetts. She is known for her work supporting low-income and homeless transgender individuals as the former Executive Director of the Transgender Emergency Fund of Massachusetts. Bowick has also founded her own consulting firm, where she provides training to organizations on working with transgender and non-binary communities. Bowick is a Black transgender woman who uses she/her pronouns.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Rotondo, Irene (2024-02-18). "LGBTQ+ Leaders: Political activist Mason Dunn is inspired by empathy". MassLive. Retrieved 2024-11-10.
  2. ↑ Eisenstadter, Dave (2024-02-29). "These are the LGBTQ+ leaders of Mass., chosen by MassLive readers". MassLive. Retrieved 2024-11-10.
  3. ↑ "A Person's Right To Choose". www.wbur.org. 2019-06-06. Retrieved 2024-11-10.
  4. ↑ Quinn, Cristina (2019-08-20). "Transgender And Non-Binary Students Face 'Enormous' Disparities In Mental Health Problems, Study Finds". GBH. Retrieved 2024-11-10.
  5. ↑ "Equality Federation". www.equalityfederation.org. Retrieved 2024-11-10.
  6. ↑ "A Person's Right To Choose". www.wbur.org. 2019-06-06. Retrieved 2024-11-10.
  7. 1 2 3 "Alumni Spotlight - Mason Dunn, JD '12". Franklin Pierce School of Law. 2023-06-28. Retrieved 2024-11-10.
  8. ↑ "NH Legal Community Presents Legal Leaders & Allies Summit on LGBTQ+ Inclusivity". New Hampshire Bar Association. Retrieved 2024-11-10.
  9. ↑ The Rainbow Times (2013-07-24). "Massachusetts Transgender Political Coalition Announces New Executive Director". The Rainbow Times | New England's Largest LGBTQ Newspaper | Boston. Retrieved 2024-11-10.
  10. ↑ "Transgender rights lie in the hands of a state's electorate". NBC News. 2018-10-19. Retrieved 2024-11-10.
  11. ↑ Phelps, Rob (2018-11-05). "Montana and Washington state foundations match donations for Massachusetts Yes on 3 campaign | Boston Spirit Magazine" . Retrieved 2024-11-10.
  12. ↑ Barasch, Alex (2018-11-07). "The Campaign to Preserve Massachusetts' Trans Protections Was Successful Because It Centered Trans People". Slate. ISSN   1091-2339 . Retrieved 2024-11-10.
  13. ↑ "Transgender rights lie in the hands of a state's electorate". NBC News. 2018-10-19. Retrieved 2024-11-10.
  14. ↑ Pelavin, Jordan (2019-03-20). "Meet Keshet's Director of Advocacy, Mason Dunn". My Jewish Learning. Retrieved 2024-11-10.
  15. ↑ "Staff Profile: Mason Dunn". WBUR. Retrieved 2024-11-10.
  16. ↑ The Fenway Institute (2022-03-24). "The Fenway Institute To Host Book Launch For Groundbreaking Guide To Transgender And Gender Diverse Health Care - Fenway Health". fenwayhealth.org. Retrieved 2024-11-10.
  17. ↑ "Meet the Team: Mason J. Dunn". Massachusetts LGBT Chamber of Commerce. Retrieved 2024-11-10.
  18. ↑ Impink, Paige (March 25, 2023). "Tewksbury shines its Pride Month lights". Tewksbury Town Crier. Retrieved 2024-11-10.
  19. ↑ University of New Hampshire. "Kidder Fund Award Recipients". Diversity, Equity, Access & Inclusion. Retrieved 2024-11-10.
  20. ↑ Law, Jewish Alliance for; Presents, Social Action. "2019 Annual Meeting: Living Our Values". JewishBoston. Retrieved 2024-11-10.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.