All Entries Tagged With: "massequality"
New Guidance for Transgender Non-Discrimination Law in Schools
BOSTON, Mass. – The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) on Feb. 15 issued comprehensive guidelines that aim to ensure Massachusetts public schools comply with the new transgender non-discrimination law that prohibits discrimination against transgender students in all school programs and activities. The DESE guidelines were praised by an array of advocates, educators, families [...]
LGBT Leaders Welcome Cowan’s Appointment as Interim MA Senator, more
By: Chuck Colbert/TRT Reporter– Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick has named former aide William “Mo” Cowan as interim U.S. senator. The appointment, which came on Wednesday, January 30, fills the seat left vacant by John F. Kerry who resigned from the Senate to become secretary of state. The Senate confirmed him to that post on a [...]
MassEquality Statement on John Kerry’s Confirmation as Sec. of State
Yesterday, Sen. John Kerry was confirmed by the United States Senate to serve as US Secretary of State. MassEquality Executive Director Kara Suffredini offered the following statement in response: “We congratulate Sen. John Kerry on this remarkable honor. Sen. Kerry served for 28 years in the United States Senate and amassed a lengthy record in [...]
MassEquality’s 2013 Icon Awards to Honor Gov. Deval Patrick, others
Second Annual Icon Awards Recognize Extraordinary Contributions to LGBTQ Equality BOSTON, Massachusetts – MassEquality will honor Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick, the Boston Bruins, the Massachusetts Coalition for the Homeless, and Esmond Harmsworth at its second annual Icon Awards, which take place February 28, 2013 at 6 p.m. in the Oval Room of the Fairmont Copley Plaza [...]
MassEquality Named Leading High-Impact Local Nonprofit by Philanthropedia
Dollars contributed to MassEquality are dollars well spent BOSTON, Massachusetts—MassEquality announce on January 4th that it made Philanthropedia’s list of top nonprofits working locally to advance LGBTQ equality. Philanthropedia is a division of the leading nonprofit information provider GuideStar. Philanthropedia compiled its list by surveying 110 experts working in the field of LGBTQ equality to identify organizations that were [...]
MassEquality, Others React to U.S. Supreme Court’s Decision on Prop. 8 & DOMA
BOSTON, Massachusetts — On December 7th, the U.S. Supreme Court announced that it would hear arguments in Windsor v. United States, which challenges Section 3 of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), which prohibits federal recognition of the marriages of same-sex couples. At President Barack Obama’s direction, the U.S. Department of Justice is no longer defending DOMA. A [...]
Gayborhood News: The Good, The Bad and The Ugly
By: Emily Scagel/TRT Assistant Editor– Baltimore, MD Marriage equality approved at ballot box in Maryland Maryland voters approved the Civil Marriage Protection Act, which paves the way for gay and lesbian couples to receive a marriage license. This is the first time that any state has voted on and passed marriage equality on the ballot. [...]
New Report on LGBT Movement Sees Increase in Financial Support, Donors
BOSTON, Massachusetts — Following several years of declining revenue, lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) social justice organizations experienced a 17% revenue increase from 2010 to 2011 according to a new report by the Movement Advancement Project (MAP). Organizations are reaping the benefits of improved efficiency during the belt-tightening years, and increased funding primarily fueled [...]
MassEquality Board Member Named A Social Justice Champion By Chelsea Collaborative
Organization cites commitment to ensuring that equal rights and opportunities are open to all BOSTON, Massachusetts—On Dec. 7, 2012, the Chelsea Collaborative will honor the Two Sisters and a Wife Foundation, a family foundation managed by long-time MassEquality board member Sara Whitman, with its Social Justice Champion Award. Whitman’s family foundation granted the Collaborative $40,000 [...]
Municipal Equality Index in MA: Boston & Cambridge 100; Northampton, Others Not So
Boston and Cambridge score 100; Northampton & Provincetown not so. In this first of its kind nationwide evaluation of LGBT inclusion in municipal law and policy finds cities need to do more to protect LGBT employees and citizens WASHINGTON — A new report on lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) equality in America’s cities by the [...]
MassEquality & LGBT Aging Project Applaud Patrick Administration for Outreach to LGBT Older Adults
Call on lawmakers to pass bill that would require elder service provider training in LGBT issues BOSTON, Massachusetts — Today, MassEquality and the LGBT Aging Project praised the Patrick Administration for recognizing that LGBT elders have unique needs separate from the greater population and for urging local elder service agencies to specifically reach out to [...]
News from Your Gayborhood: The Good, The Bad & The Ugly
By: Emily Scagel/TRT Assistant Editor– Boston, MA MassEquality urges team to make pro-LGBT video Following a homophobic tweet from New England Patriots linebacker Brandon Spikes, MassEquality has called upon the Patriots to make an “It Gets Better” video. Spikes, when confronted about the remark, tried to claim it as a joke. In response, MassEquality stated [...]
Equality Needs a Champion Like Elizabeth Warren
By: Kara Suffredini, Esq.*/Special to TRT– Eight years ago, we knew that if we won the right to marry in Massachusetts the rest of the country would follow. We were right. Today, five other states and the District of Columbia recognize the marriages of same-sex couples, and it’s only a matter of time before marriage [...]
MassEquality Calls on New England Patriots To Make An ‘It Gets Better’ Video
From a Press Release BOSTON, October 15, 2012—Last week, the day before National Coming Out Day and midway through National Bullying Prevention Month, New England Patriots linebacker Brandon Spikes broadcast an offensive tweet about LGBT people to his 280,000 followers on Twitter. MassEquality Executive Director issued the following statement in response: “October is National Bullying [...]
Creep of the Week: Anti-LGBT Republican Senator Scott Brown
By: D’Anne Witkowski*/Special for TRT– There are a few things you should know about United States Senator Scott Brown. First, he’s a Republican. Second, he currently represents Massachusetts in D.C. after he replaced Sen. Ted Kennedy, a Democrat, in a special election held after Kennedy’s death in 2010. Third, Brown is currently campaigning to keep [...]
