An optical transmitter with chirp control includes an input polarizer having an input that receives an optical signal. The input polarizer polarizes the optical signal along an input polarization axis. A Mach-Zehnder modulator includes an optical input that is coupled to an output of the input polarizer and an electrical input that receives a modulation signal. The Mach-Zehnder modulator modulates the optical signal with the modulation signal. The input polarization axis of the input polarizer is chosen to achieve a desired chirp of the modulated optical signal. An output polarizer is coupled to the output of the Mach-Zehnder modulator. The output polarizer polarizes the modulated optical signal along a desired output polarization axis that combines TE and TM mode polarizations.