BOSTON—Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey has appointed Giselle Byrd, a biological male who identifies as a transgender woman of color, to the Massachusetts Commission on the Status of Women. Byrd now serves as Vice Chair of the commission’s Programming and Planning Committee, becoming the first male-born individual to hold a leadership role in the state body created to represent and advocate for women.

The controversy exploded after Massachusetts Republican commentator Chester Tam posted the appointment on X, highlighting that the new vice chair is “the first man identifying as a transgender woman of color” to serve on the women’s commission. His post triggered a wave of outrage, with hundreds of comments accusing the Healey administration of sidelining women and sparking a broader debate over fairness, representation, and who should speak for Massachusetts women.

Maura Healey appointed Giselle Byrd to the Massachusetts Commission on the Status of Women (MCSW). Byrd, now the Vice Chair of the MCSW’s Programming and Planning Committee, is the first man identifying as a transgender woman of color to serve on the commission.

He/She will… pic.twitter.com/31K9fAr9RZ

— Chester Tam (@islantstudio) November 15, 2025

Seats on the commission are limited, and every appointment removes an opportunity for a woman to serve. By selecting a biological male, critics say that the Healey administration effectively displaced a female candidate who could have held the position — a reality raising concerns among women’s rights advocates who argue that the commission exists specifically to elevate women’s voices in government.

Critics say the appointment reflects a broader trend in which gender-identity policies override sex-based representation. They argue that a male-born individual, regardless of identity, cannot speak from female biology or lived female experience, especially when the commission’s work covers areas such as maternal health, women’s safety, domestic violence, economic inequality, and sex-based discrimination.

Supporters of the decision, including the Healey administration, say the appointment broadens representation and brings “diverse lived experiences” to the commission. They argue that including individuals of different identities strengthens the commission’s work.

Byrd has emphasized the importance of transgender representation and has previously worked in community outreach roles. The appointment has drawn strong reactions from both sides, with supporters praising it as a step toward inclusion and critics calling it an ideological shift that redefines womanhood for political purposes.

The decision places Massachusetts among the states appointing male-born individuals to women’s commissions, intensifying national debate over whether gender identity should replace biological sex as the basis for representation in government bodies serving women.