Dear Candidates: Thank you to all the candidates who ... - Bitly

Dear Candidates: Thank you to all the candidates who participated in our endorsement night questionnaire. Your answers were thoughtful and illustrated your depth of commitment to all members of our LGBTQ community!

Dear Members: Thank you for participating in the endorsement process. According to our bylaws, candidates must complete a questionnaire to be considered for endorsement.

For more endorsement details, visit: Endorsement Night Details: http://bit.ly/2014Candidates Updates and complete candidate information: http://bit.ly/1ybtQjt

Any typographical or spelling errors found in these forms are the editors gained through the imperfect compiling process. Please bring them to the endorsement group’s attention at: [email protected].

GOV – BERWICK, Don

CANDIDATE NAME: Don Berwick OFFICE RUNNING FOR: Governor 1. What are the top three issues you would prioritize in your term? 1. Education. Major inequities exist among schools and I am committed to closing those gaps. I will provide universal access to pre-K, and support programs to low-income and single-parent families. I will work to level the playing field in our public education system by supporting teachers, moving away from an over-reliance on high-stakes testing, and reversing chronic underinvestment in our low-income schools. I will make investments in our public higher education system to make college more affordable for low-income students and expand vocational training programs. 2. Inequality. Inequality has been growing in this Commonwealth and around the nation to unacceptable levels for the past several decades. I will work to increase the minimum wage to $11 per hour and beyond, to ensure all Massachusetts workers earn a livable wage. I will fight for a fair tax system where people with higher incomes pay higher tax rates and people with lower incomes pay lower tax rates. And I will make the unapologetic case for bringing the progressive values of social justice, equality and compassion back into our public discourse. I will commit to intense efforts, which I will personally lead, to end hunger, homelessness, and child poverty in Massachusetts within the next decade. 3. Healthcare. It is crucially important that we control healthcare costs without any harm whatsoever to patients. I am the only candidate who favors a single payer healthcare payment system. And I will use my experience over three decades in health care improvement to move our state away fee-for-service payment and from fragmented delivery into coordinated, team-based, integrated care. The result will be better care at lower cost. Controlling health care costs will restore hundreds millions to the state budget to be devoted to other essential programs, restore billions to workers and businesses and create jobs. It will also allow us to make sure that everyone is covered with high-quality, affordable health care regardless of who they are or their employment status. 2. Do you promise and pledge NOT to participate and/or march in the South Boston St. Patrick’s Day Parade if it continues to exclude LGBTQ groups from participating? I will NOT march. 3.A. Do you pledge to support the state legislature’s bill An Act Relative to HIV-Associated Lipodystrophy Treatment? YES. www.dotout.org • @DotOUTBoston • facebook.com/dotoutBoston • instagram.com/DotOUT • Endorsement Night — Page 1—


3.B. What actions would you take to ensure that all residents have access to HIV/AIDS treatment, services & resources? I have spent my life devoted to fighting for health care as a human right. Among other initiatives, my organization launched massive projects in Africa to eliminate mother-to-child HIV transmission. Massachusetts has made great strides in fighting HIV/AIDS, and appears poised to become the first state in the nation to achieve no new infections. I will bring my thirty years of health care experience to double down on this progress as governor. I will fight to make necessary investments, and advocate for a single payer health care system, which can ensure that every resident has access to medically necessary treatment, services, and resources–including those with HIV/Aids. 3.C. Do you support and rate as important HIV prevention programs and initiatives, given that new HIV infections continue to increase, particularly disproportionately among gay and bisexual young men, especially those of color? [TECHNICAL ISSUE WITH ONLINE SUBMISSION; CONTACTING CANDIDATE.] 4. What steps will you take to decrease violence and increase safety for all residents in Dorchester? The tragedy in Ferguson, MO underscores the need for steps to foster trust between police and the communities they serve. I believe in community policing, not combat policing.We should be proud to have some of the toughest gun laws in the country, and the recent gun bill passed by the Massachusetts House of Representatives is a sign of continued progress. But we can do more to protect people and communities from gun violence. As Governor, I will support: 1. Federal advocacy and regional solutions. Many of the illegal guns in Massachusetts come across state lines from New Hampshire, New York and Vermont. I will be a relentless advocate for comprehensive national gun safety laws, and I will work with neighboring governors to crack down on interstate gun commerce.Continued assault weapons ban. Weapons of war have no place on our streets. I oppose automatic weapons and favor the strictest possible restrictions on semi-automatic and high magazine weapons, on a state and federal level. 2. Comprehensive background checks. I support universal background checks with the teeth necessary to keep guns out of the hands of violent criminals. 3. One gun a month. I support Governor Patrick’s proposal to limit gun purchases in Massachusetts to one per month.

www.dotout.org • @DotOUTBoston • facebook.com/dotoutBoston • instagram.com/DotOUT • Endorsement Night — Page 2—


4. Safety education. Lawful gun owners should be provided adequate education to ensure that they store firearms safely out of the reach of children. But to make real progress reducing violence, we need to go beyond limiting the number of illegal guns. We must tackle the root causes of violence in our society—poverty, inequality, and lack of opportunity: 1. Outreach to at-risk youth. I will expand community programs that provide support to highrisk youth populations proven to reduce gang participation and offer young people alternative pathways to a prosperous life. 2. Programs to reduce recidivism. I will expand programs within our criminal justice system proven to help incarcerated people transition back to their communities and reduce repeat offenses. 5. What actions would you take to ensure that attention is brought to LGBT victims of violence including domestic violence, and what have you done to reduce violence against LGBT residents? I am running for Governor because I believe that all the people of Massachusetts have a right to equal treatment, dignity, and compassion – from their government and from each other. That promise includes, of course, full guarantees to the LGBT community. I will fight for them. Part of this fight is to make sure that all victims of domestic violence are afforded the same services and protections as all others. This is particularly necessary in a community that is disproportionately impacted by domestic violence. The unfinished fight for absolute equality is central to my desire to be governor, and will remain a constant focus of my administration. 6.A. Conversion therapy for minors, people under the age of 18, which seeks to change a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity or expression, has been shown in evidence, to be harmful to youth, and all leading behavioral and mental health organizations and associations oppose it due to lack of evidence, with science showing and noting its harmful effects. Anti-conversion therapy bills have become law in California and New Jersey (signed into law by Gov. Christie), and anti-conversion therapy bills are expected to be considered again in the coming legislative session in many states, including Massachusetts, which has a bill in place and ready for legislative action. (Other states expected to move forward with anti-conversion therapy bills, in reverse alphabetical order, are WA, PA, OH, NY, MN and FL). Do you promise to support Massachusetts’ state legislative bill against conversion therapy? YES.



6.B. As you may know, death by suicide is the leading cause of death among LGBT youth. Approximately 40% of homeless youth are LGBT, and approximately 28% of LGBT youth drop out of high school because of verbal and physical abuse, harassment or bullying. Given these startling statistics, what actions have you taken or will you take to address these important issues? LGBT youth in this state are at high risk. They suffer disproportionate levels of homelessness, violence, and suicide. Students are subject to bullying, and yet they often don’t feel comfortable seeking help. LGBT seniors fail to receive culturally competent care. And transgender people still face discrimination in our public spaces. As Governor, I will: 1) Provide support services and housing for unaccompanied homeless youth. All youth need safe spaces wherever they are, including in our homeless shelters, and state support is required for housing and social services designed particularly to address the unique needs and challenges of LGBT youth on the streets. Studies have shown that 20-40 percent of unaccompanied homeless youth – up to 2,400 children and teens in Massachusetts – identify themselves as LGBT. They need protection and, in my Administration, they will get it. 2) Invest in anti-bullying programs. When harassment or discrimination goes unaddressed, ostracized students are psychologically injured, and they are more likely to engage in self-destructive behavior. I will assure that our schools have the tools and training to intervene effectively and help to prevent high-risk behavior before it starts. This includes expansion of high-quality mental health services to meet the need. 7. It is believed that there are anywhere between 1.6 to 3.2 million LGBT people who are age 65 or older. Many of these LGBT elders are invisible to mainstream elder service providers and also invisible to the LGBT community as a whole. What actions would you take to ensure that LGBT elders have access to elder services and resources and to increase access by making existing services culturally competent? Until every person in our Commonwealth can go through life without fear of discrimination, intimidation, or persecution, the fight for LGBT rights continues. This, of course, applies regardless of age. As Administrator of Medicare and Medicaid for President Obama, I fought to make sure that our nation’s seniors, including members of the LGBT community, had access to the best possible medical care and services. I will continue that fight as governor. 8. A. Do you pledge to support the state legislature’s bill, The Transgender Equality Bill? This bill would add gender identity and gender expression to existing state law against discrimination in public accommodations, such as restaurants, public libraries, and other public facilities, already in place regarding other protected classes (e.g. race, religion, sex, national origin, disability and sexual orientation)? YES. www.dotout.org • @DotOUTBoston • facebook.com/dotoutBoston • instagram.com/DotOUT • Endorsement Night — Page 4—


8.B. Massachusetts’ education officials this past year have issued new guidelines governing the inclusion of transgender students, following the passage of state law in 2011 adding gender identity and gender expression protections to existing state law protecting sexual orientation to other protected classes in the areas of employment, housing, credit, hate crimes and public education. Do you support these guidelines? YES. 8.C. What actions will you take to insure the transgender community is treated with equal dignity and respect? I will adopt a zero-tolerance policy for discrimination against transgender individuals. I fully support the “Equal Access” bill that adds “gender identity” to existing law that prohibits discrimination in public places. 9. How have you supported the LGBTQ community in the past? I am running for Governor because I believe that all the people of Massachusetts have a right to equal treatment, dignity, and compassion – from their government and from each other. Those values have informed my work as a pediatrician and an executive for over 30 years. As Medicare and Medicaid Administrator, I oversaw the issuing of regulations that assured the same hospital visitation rights for same-sex couples as for heterosexual couples. In the Massachusetts that I envision, there are no second-class citizens, there are no tolerated forms of discrimination, and there is no concession to disparities that deny people the full benefits of citizenship. This includes the full rights that accrue to families. Neither the sexual orientation nor the gender identity of parents has any bearing on a child’s success or happiness. What matters is a loving, supportive home. Families are families. Period.

10. If endorsed by DotOUT, will you include this endorsement whenever you list, name or state endorsements (e.g. in promotions, flyers, letters to voters, ads, speeches and/or media interviews)? YES.


GOV – COAKLEY, Martha

CANDIDATE NAME: Martha Coakley OFFICE RUNNING FOR: Governor 1. What are the top three issues you would prioritize in your term? As Governor, my top three priorities will be building an economy on our terms, transforming our public education system, and providing access to high-quality physical and behavioral healthcare for individuals and families across Massachusetts. I will work to build on the strength of our workforce and decrease barriers to business growth, in order to create jobs and economic opportunity across every region of the Commonwealth. I will also continue my track record of standing up for the rights of workers and pursuing strategies that reduce income inequality, including enforcing antidiscrimination laws and supporter earned sick time. I will also be committed to transforming our public education system, including universal access to early education and community college, so that all children, regardless of their income bracket, have the best possible chance to reach their full potential. Finally, an issue that is personal for me, we must continue our tireless efforts to ensure access, quality, and affordability in our health care system; and not only to physical health care, but to mental health care as well, because too many individuals and families in our state continue to suffer in silence, unsure where to turn for support or unable to access the services they need.

2. Do you promise and pledge NOT to participate and/or march in the South Boston St. Patrick’s Day Parade if it continues to exclude LGBTQ groups from participating? I will NOT march. 3.A. Do you pledge to support the state legislature’s bill An Act Relative to HIVAssociated Lipodystrophy Treatment? YES. 3.B. What actions would you take to ensure that all residents have access to HIV/AIDS treatment, services & resources? Throughout the campaign, I have spoken about the importance of expanding access to high- quality, culturally competent health care, especially community-based health care services. I have called for greater funding and increased coverage of services from private insurers. In some respects, Massachusetts has been a victim of its own success. Because Massachusetts has successfully driven down the rates of HIV and AIDS, federal funding has been reallocated to other states, leaving a funding gap for programs like free condom distribution and media advertising. As Governor, I will work with our federal partners to restore this funding and ensure that these programs remain www.dotout.org • @DotOUTBoston • facebook.com/dotoutBoston • instagram.com/DotOUT • Endorsement Night — Page 6—


adequately funded. Expanding the capacity of existing services, to ensure that we can meet the demand is one critical step to ensure affordable access to treatment, services & resources. However, we must also remain focused on even more fundamental problem: eliminating stigma. Like with mental health and substance abuse, there is still a powerful stigma attached to HIV/AIDS, particularly in certain communities. All the services in the world will do us no good if people are too afraid to access them. As I have shared the story of my family’s battle with mental illness, I have seen the profound impact that it has had on people who have been scared to discuss their own struggles. I believe the next Governor must make it a priority to bring the issue of HIV/AIDS to the forefront of the public conversation; to use the bully pulpit to shed light on the issue and help reduce the stigma, so that people suffering with this disease feel empowered to seek the help they need. 3.C. Do you support and rate as important HIV prevention programs and initiatives, given that new HIV infections continue to increase, particularly disproportionately among gay and bisexual young men, especially those of color? YES. 4. What steps will you take to decrease violence and increase safety for all residents in Dorchester? I have worked my entire public career to make our schools, homes, and streets safer, and I believe our efforts to improve public safety must focus on prevention and rehabilitation. In my career as an ADA, DA, and now AG, I have seen too many people enter our criminal justice system who could have been diverted by an appropriate intervention earlier on, whether that’s access to education, employment, or behavioral health care. I believe we must make a greater commitment to protecting public safety on the front end, by increasing support for services, especially for young people, which offer viable alternatives to violence from an early age and address the underlying causes of violence, including mental health issues and substance abuse. I also have a strong record of pursuing the most effective strategies to combat gun violence, which continues to plague our urban communities, especially. I have supported critical measures like closing the gun show loophole, instituting universal background checks, and banning assault weapons. I support the gun control measures recent signed by Governor Patrick and, as Governor, I will continue to pressure the federal government to pass comprehensive gun control legislation so that Massachusetts’ toughest-in-thenation gun laws are not undermined by surrounding states with more relaxed laws.



Finally, I believe that we need to meaningfully improve post-release services for those who are incarcerated. Currently, recidivism rates sit well above 50%, meaning that much of the crime in our communities can be attributed to individuals who find themselves stuck in a cycle of violence and incarceration. We need to utilize the time inmates spend in prison to help them acquire education and job skills that can be invaluable once they are released. And when they are released, we need to ensure that there is a readily accessible, sustainable network of services available, including job counseling and behavioral health services, to help them reintegrate successfully into the community and break the cycle of incarceration. 5. What actions would you take to ensure that attention is brought to LGBT victims of violence including domestic violence, and what have you done to reduce violence against LGBT residents? I have spent my career working to reduce violence, both by holding perpetrators accountable and exploring innovative ways to support and empower victims, including those in the LGBTQ community. As with any type of violence, I believe the key lies in early intervention; I helped champion Massachusetts’ groundbreaking anti-bullying law, which puts in place greater protections for LGBTQ young people, who are often the target of harassment and violence. I will continue to work tirelessly to reduce the stigma that so often leads to violence against members of the LGBTQ community. For those cases we are unable to prevent, I will work with law enforcement and advocacy groups to ensure that cases involving LGBT victims are treated equitably, and that law enforcement and other state employees working to reduce violence receive proper cultural competency training. I also believe it is important to do more to support and empower victims. Earlier this year, along with Speaker DeLeo, I spearheaded significant domestic violence legislation, recently signed into law by Governor Patrick, which requires that bail for domestic violence offender be delayed by six hours, to give victims a chance to get help and find a safe place, and requires employers to offer 15 days of leave a year for domestic violence victims who must receive medical attention or attend court. Empowering victims is critical to breaking the cycle of violence, especially domestic violence, and will be a priority of mine as Governor.

6.A. Conversion therapy for minors, people under the age of 18, which seeks to change a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity or expression, has been shown in evidence, to be harmful to youth, and all leading behavioral and mental health organizations and associations oppose it due to lack of evidence, with science showing and noting its harmful effects. Anti-conversion therapy bills have become law in California and New Jersey (signed into law by Gov. Christie), and anti-conversion therapy www.dotout.org • @DotOUTBoston • facebook.com/dotoutBoston • instagram.com/DotOUT • Endorsement Night — Page 8—


bills are expected to be considered again in the coming legislative session in many states, including Massachusetts, which has a bill in place and ready for legislative action. (Other states expected to move forward with anti-conversion therapy bills, in reverse alphabetical order, are WA, PA, OH, NY, MN and FL). Do you promise to support Massachusetts’ state legislative bill against conversion therapy? YES. 6.B. As you may know, death by suicide is the leading cause of death among LGBT youth. Approximately 40% of homeless youth are LGBT, and approximately 28% of LGBT youth drop out of high school because of verbal and physical abuse, harassment or bullying. Given these startling statistics, what actions have you taken or will you take to address these important issues? Bullying and harassment are some of the most serious challenges facing young people today, especially young LGBTQ individuals, too often resulting in tragic consequences. As part of my policy for working with the LGBTQ community, which I released earlier this year, I identified a range of strategies to address these very challenges, including: 1) Integrating LGBTQ-related topics into school curricula Incorporating LGBTQ topics into school curricula will improve the educational experience for LGBTQ students, and help build acceptance and support among the broader school community. I strongly support An Act relative to healthy youth, which would require school districts offering sexuality education to include critical issues that young adults face, including the importance of safe sexual activity and the skills to build relationships that are free of violence, coercion, and intimidation. These lessons are crucial to building tolerance and understanding for young people, especially young LGBTQ young people, as they enter into relationships. It is also important that instruction in other subjects recognize and celebrate the accomplishments of LGBTQ individuals. As Governor, I will work with educators, nonprofits, and parents to create a framework for incorporating awareness of the LGBTQ community throughout school curricula. 2) Increase budget for MA Commission on LGBTQ Youth and expand student-led advocacy groups Last year, the budget for the state commission on LGBTQ youth was doubled, from $100,000 to $200,000, which allowed the commission to expand anti-bullying training for parents, teachers, and students into 300 schools across the Commonwealth. We need to provide the resources to implement this type of training program in every school district in Massachusetts. This investment can help enormously to build understanding www.dotout.org • @DotOUTBoston • facebook.com/dotoutBoston • instagram.com/DotOUT • Endorsement Night — Page 9—


and prevent the social isolation and discrimination still faced by too many LGBTQ students. Furthermore, the MA Commission for LGBTQ Youth and the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education should work collaboratively to educate school officials about the benefits of creating strong student-led advocacy groups, like Gay/Straight alliances, and ensuring that these groups have the institutional support to function effectively. These groups should adopt a model similar to the State Student Advisory Council, whereby the they collectively elect members to serve on a statewide council, the chairman or chairwoman of which would sit on the Commission for LGBTQ Youth, to provide direct feedback about the priorities and concerns of LGBTQ students. 3) Expand LGBTQ-specific services for unaccompanied homeless youth Up to 40% of all unaccompanied homeless youth identify as LGBTQ, and their service needs often differ from those of other unaccompanied youth. As Governor, I will direct the Department of Housing and Community Development to develop additional LGBTQspecific services for unaccompanied homeless youth including increasing the number of LGBTQ-specific shelters, such as the Waltham House, that offer at least one private bathroom and shower for the privacy and safety of LGBTQ youth, and expanding group homes that address specific mental and physical health challenges often faced by LGBTQ youth. In addition, I will work to identify and address the root causes of homelessness among LGBTQ youth, including working with DCF to support families with LGBTQ children, and I will work with law enforcement officials to ensure that they have the cultural competency to be a safe and effective resource for LGBTQ youth.

7. It is believed that there are anywhere between 1.6 to 3.2 million LGBT people who are age 65 or older. Many of these LGBT elders are invisible to mainstream elder service providers and also invisible to the LGBT community as a whole. What actions would you take to ensure that LGBT elders have access to elder services and resources and to increase access by making existing services culturally competent? One of the biggest challenges facing the LGBTQ community today is ensuring that members of the community have access to appropriate care as they age. Too many older LGBTQ individuals choose not to seek needed care because they don’t have access to competent services, and we still need better data about those seniors who need LGBTQ-specific services. Massachusetts has recently created a special commission to study the specific issue of LGBTQ elders; as Governor, I will review the commission’s recommendations and find ways to implement strategies that improve access to appropriate care.



8. A. Do you pledge to support the state legislature’s bill, The Transgender Equality Bill? This bill would add gender identity and gender expression to existing state law against discrimination in public accommodations, such as restaurants, public libraries, and other public facilities, already in place regarding other protected classes (e.g. race, religion, sex, national origin, disability and sexual orientation)? YES. 8.B. Massachusetts’ education officials this past year have issued new guidelines governing the inclusion of transgender students, following the passage of state law in 2011 adding gender identity and gender expression protections to existing state law protecting sexual orientation to other protected classes in the areas of employment, housing, credit, hate crimes and public education. Do you support these guidelines? YES. 8.C. What actions will you take to insure the transgender community is treated with equal dignity and respect? I was an early and vocal advocate for the state’s Transgender Equal Rights legislation, and I will make access to places of public accommodation a priority as Governor. Everyone should be able to access libraries, hospitals, restaurants, and stores in Massachusetts, regardless of their gender identity. Another place transgender individuals often encounter harassment and discrimination is in the workplace. As Governor, I will work with the next Attorney General to build on my strong record of standing up for workers rights, and ensure that transgender individuals have the same economic opportunities, are treated fairly, and are compensated appropriately, and I will hold accountable employers who fail to address harassment or discrimination against any member of the LGBTQ community. Finally, transgender individuals often face unique barriers to accessing appropriate health care. As Governor, I will instruct the Division of Insurance to issue guidelines in order to prevent discrimination in health coverage for transgender individuals. 9. How have you supported the LGBTQ community in the past? I have been proud to stand with the LGBTQ community throughout my career. In 2009, my office was the first in the country to challenge the Defense of Marriage Act, because the law was unfairly preventing more than 16,000 same-sex families in Massachusetts from receiving benefits that were rightfully theirs, and a federal judge agreed that DOMA violated the rights of Massachusetts and its citizens. When the case was appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court, our office filed an amicus brief, which stated “our firm conviction that in order to truly achieve marriage equality all couples must enjoy the same rights and protections under both state and federal law.” Our leadership in Massachusetts www.dotout.org • @DotOUTBoston • facebook.com/dotoutBoston • instagram.com/DotOUT • Endorsement Night — Page 11—


inspired the Department of Justice not to defend DOMA, and when the high court struck down the law once and for all last year, it echoed many of the same arguments we had made in our original case. We have made it a priority to expand protections for transgender individuals in Massachusetts. In 2011, I testified in support of proposed legislation that would expand legal protections and ensure equal access, and told the Joint Judiciary Committee that “our Commonwealth is stronger when every person can live and work free of harassment and threats.” The law that took effect in July 2012 represents an important, and long overdue, first step, but we must continue to remain focused on ensuring access to places of public accommodation, something I will fight for as Governor. Working together, we have developed better strategies to prevent students from being bullied because of their sexual orientation or gender identity. I chaired Massachusetts’ Commission on Bullying Prevention and, in partnership with MassEquality and the AntiDefamation League, I sponsored legislation that requires schools to update anti-bullying plans to include protections for especially vulnerable populations, including LGBTQ youth. The law will allow us to better measure the effectiveness of our anti-bullying programs and create a safer environment for every student. I am proud of the work I have done in partnership with members of the LGBTQ community. I am proud to have received the endorsement of MassEquality in my current campaign for Governor, and I look forward to continuing to work closely with legislators, advocates, and members of the community on the challenges still facing LGBTQ individuals in Massachusetts. 10. If endorsed by DotOUT, will you include this endorsement whenever you list, name or state endorsements (e.g. in promotions, flyers, letters to voters, ads, speeches and/or media interviews)? YES. .


GOV – GROSSMAN, Steve

CANDIDATE NAME: Steve Grossman OFFICE RUNNING FOR: Governor 1. What are the top three issues you would prioritize in your term? 1. Aggressively address the issues of poverty and economic deprivation by offering universal pre-K education, as well as dramatically enhancing workforce training and closing the skills gap to make our fellow citizens career-ready. 2. Within the context of creating between 75,000 and 100,000 jobs annually, I’ve set a goal of creating 50,000 new manufacturing jobs over the next five years mostly in our older, industrial cities by investing in our vocational-technical schools and our community colleges. 3. Revolutionize the delivery of health care services to reduce or eliminate health disparities, primarily by significantly increasing our investment in community hospitals and community health centers and by promoting wellness programs, which research shows can return $3.27 for every $1 invested. 2. Do you promise and pledge NOT to participate and/or march in the South Boston St. Patrick’s Day Parade if it continues to exclude LGBTQ groups from participating? I will NOT march. 3.A. Do you pledge to support the state legislature’s bill An Act Relative to HIVAssociated Lipodystrophy Treatment? YES. 3.B. What actions would you take to ensure that all residents have access to HIV/AIDS treatment, services & resources? Underfunding programs that provide HIV testing and counseling, contraception, and treatment for sexually transmitted infections, among other services, not only denies our most vulnerable residents the health care coverage, treatment, and counseling they desperately need, but it is also economically wrong. You judge a society by how it spends its resources. As governor, I will be deeply committed to ensuring that we spend the appropriate amount of funds on these services and programs. 3.C. Do you support and rate as important HIV prevention programs and initiatives, given that new HIV infections continue to increase, particularly disproportionately among gay and bisexual young men, especially those of color? YES.



4. What steps will you take to decrease violence and increase safety for all residents in Dorchester? Violence continues to plague too many families each year across the Commonwealth, including in the neighborhoods of Boston. I applaud the Governor, the Speaker, and the Legislature for making our nation-leading gun laws even tougher by expanding background checks, increasing access to mental health services, and enhancing school safety. Here in Massachusetts, we know that tough gun laws save lives. But as proud as I am about our gun safety statistics, I am not satisfied. Statistics do nothing to comfort the 254 grieving families still healing from the loss of a loved one killed by guns in Massachusetts during 2011, the most recent year for which we have statewide data available from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. There is more work to be done to reduce the number of gun-related fatalities in Massachusetts. I have made common-sense gun safety solutions a centerpiece of my policy platform. In addition to the new gun safety law, I’ve also urged lawmakers and the Attorney General to add three additional reforms: limit gun purchases to one a month, require gun manufacturers to use smart gun technology, and create an interstate regional task force to deal with the torrent of illegal guns crossing our borders.. 5. What actions would you take to ensure that attention is brought to LGBT victims of violence including domestic violence, and what have you done to reduce violence against LGBT residents? I will strongly support increasing funding for domestic violence shelters, rape crisis centers, and LGBT domestic violence services. In addition, I will be an unwavering advocate to ensure that state government works collaboratively with all schools as well as colleges and universities – public and private – to ensure enhanced training, resources, and prevention programs for sexual assault. One in five women across the country report having been sexually assaulted in college. Led by Vice President Biden, the Obama administration has taken several executive actions to address this crisis, working with educators and school officials to implement new programs that effectively address the crisis of sexual violence and harassment. As governor, I look forward to forging new partnerships with educators and government officials to build on this progress.



Over the years I have been also involved in three organizations working to prevent domestic violence and provide victims with support services: RESPOND, Second Step, and Casa Myrna. I was a long time member of the board of the Dimock Community Health Center and have also served as a member of the advisory board of the Fenway Community Health Center since the board was created. 6.A. Conversion therapy for minors, people under the age of 18, which seeks to change a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity or expression, has been shown in evidence, to be harmful to youth, and all leading behavioral and mental health organizations and associations oppose it due to lack of evidence, with science showing and noting its harmful effects. Anti-conversion therapy bills have become law in California and New Jersey (signed into law by Gov. Christie), and anti-conversion therapy bills are expected to be considered again in the coming legislative session in many states, including Massachusetts, which has a bill in place and ready for legislative action. (Other states expected to move forward with anti-conversion therapy bills, in reverse alphabetical order, are WA, PA, OH, NY, MN and FL). Do you promise to support Massachusetts’ state legislative bill against conversion therapy? YES. 6.B. As you may know, death by suicide is the leading cause of death among LGBT youth. Approximately 40% of homeless youth are LGBT, and approximately 28% of LGBT youth drop out of high school because of verbal and physical abuse, harassment or bullying. Given these startling statistics, what actions have you taken or will you take to address these important issues? I strongly support “An Act Providing Housing and Support Services to Unaccompanied Homeless Youth.” Homelessness disproportionally impacts LGBT youth, who face discrimination because of their sexual orientation or gender identity. I will ask the Secretary of Health and Human Services to review the report recently issued by the Special Commission on Unaccompanied Homeless, issue a list of recommendations for the new administration, and then seek support from the Legislature to ensure this critical work of the commission continues. As we address the issue of homelessness impacting LGBT youth, we must also ensure we develop a long-term, permanent solution and dedicate the appropriate funds continue to provide the necessary housing facilities for those desperately in need.



Inscribed on the front of the U.S. Supreme Court in Washington are the words, “Equal Justice Under Law.” We have an obligation to make those words a reality for every citizen, family, and child in this Commonwealth. That fundamental principle of equal justice and equal opportunity will guide every decision I make as governor. It’s morally wrong when we don’t provide adequate protections for students who live in fear each day. But furthermore, students who don’t feel safe can’t learn to the best of their ability. I’m proud that Massachusetts recently updated its bullying law. As governor, I will also ask education officials under my direction to meet with teachers, students, principals, and school district officials to discover how we can best implement the law and ensure it’s applied effectively. 7. It is believed that there are anywhere between 1.6 to 3.2 million LGBT people who are age 65 or older. Many of these LGBT elders are invisible to mainstream elder service providers and also invisible to the LGBT community as a whole. What actions would you take to ensure that LGBT elders have access to elder services and resources and to increase access by making existing services culturally competent? As governor, I would make the Secretary of Elder Affairs a full cabinet position reporting directly to the governor to ensure that I receive constant advice and guidance directly from the secretary. I would ask the secretary to work with members of the legislature and implement a curriculum that best serves the interest of all our senior citizens, including those in the LGBT community. Nobody should be denied the right to retire in dignity. We need a comprehensive approach that brings health care professionals, government officials, and non-profit organizations together to develop senior housing, transportation, legal services, and social events for LGBT older adults. I also believe that empowering all our seniors to make independent choices that best fit their needs also requires expanding financial education and financial literacy. That’s why, working with the Legislature, I’m proud we created the Financial Literacy Trust Fund to provide our most vulnerable citizens with the knowledge they need to make informed financial decisions. Recent studies from the 2012 LGBT Aging and Health Report have found that almost two thirds of LGBT seniors have been victimized at least three times, and more than one in five do not feel comfortable disclosing their sexual or gender identity to their doctor. In addition to working collaboratively with physicians and insurance companies to correct these health disparities, we must provide seniors with greater access to transportation



services by strengthening our regional transit authorities (RTAs) across the state and increasing the number of wellness programs and senior centers. 8. A. Do you pledge to support the state legislature’s bill, The Transgender Equality Bill? This bill would add gender identity and gender expression to existing state law against discrimination in public accommodations, such as restaurants, public libraries, and other public facilities, already in place regarding other protected classes (e.g. race, religion, sex, national origin, disability and sexual orientation)? YES. Yes, I support the legislation. I will serve as an unwavering advocate for citizens who identify as transgender to receive the rights they deserve. These are questions of human rights, fairness, and decency. To begin, I will stand up to misleading, offensive rhetoric from the far right that seeks to replace tolerance with division. That’s why I am proud to have been the only candidate to have publicly called out Charlie Baker at the recent LGBTQ forum at the Boston Public Library for having demeaned the transgender community by calling this proposal “the bathroom bill.” I will work with my colleagues in the Legislature, many of whom I have relationships with that date back many years, to seek support for expanding protections in places of public accommodations, and urge the Joint Committee on the Judiciary to move “An Act Relative to Equal Access” favorably out of committee and bring it to a vote. The 17 other states with transgender nondiscrimination laws offer protections for public accommodations, and Massachusetts should be no different. I was deeply disappointed that the public accommodations provision, a provision that I strongly and publicly supported throughout the process, was not included in the transgender rights legislation previously passed. We must be a Commonwealth that leads, not follows. 8.B. Massachusetts’ education officials this past year have issued new guidelines governing the inclusion of transgender students, following the passage of state law in 2011 adding gender identity and gender expression protections to existing state law protecting sexual orientation to other protected classes in the areas of employment, housing, credit, hate crimes and public education. Do you support these guidelines? YES. 8.C. What actions will you take to insure the transgender community is treated with equal dignity and respect? I will continue to strictly enforce Executive Orders 526 and 527, signed by Governor Patrick to provide employment non-discrimination protections for transgender state workers. www.dotout.org • @DotOUTBoston • facebook.com/dotoutBoston • instagram.com/DotOUT • Endorsement Night — Page 17—


I will advocate vigorously for the Legislature to pass “An Act Relative to Equal Access,” and provide those in the transgender community with the equal justice they deserve. I’m proud that Massachusetts recently updated its bullying law. As governor, I will also ask education officials under my direction to meet with teachers, students, principals, and school district officials to discover how we can best implement the law and ensure it’s applied effectively. 9. How have you supported the LGBTQ community in the past? I’m running for governor to build One Commonwealth that leaves no one behind. I believe the fundamental challenge we face today is rampant economic inequality. As governor, my top priority will be to level the playing field for many families and individuals struggling to keep their place in the middle class. I also believe that the words carved on the front of the Supreme Court of the United States, “Equal Justice Under Law,” define the fundamental principle on which this Commonwealth and this country were built. Long before I was an elected official, I supported the fundamental values that continue to shape the fight for LGBTQ social justice, including the battle for marriage equality and transgender rights. My wife Barbara and I have stood shoulder to shoulder with the LGBTQ community for the past 15 years. Barbara is often introduced at LGBTQ events as the first straight member of the MassEquality board. We provided significant initial funding through GLAD for the legal team that began the fight to overturn DOMA. I’m also proud to have served since its conception as a member of the advisory board of the Fenway Community Health Center. As chairman of the DNC from 1997-1999, I re-established the DNC’s gay and lesbian caucus and hired the DNC’s first full-time director of gay and lesbian outreach. When I stepped down as DNC chair in 1999, I actively and successfully lobbied President Clinton to make my life-long friend and LGBT activist Andy Tobias Treasurer of the DNC, a position he still holds. When I ran for governor in 2002, I strongly opposed a petition for a state constitutional ban on same-sex marriage. Barbara and I also contributed financial support to legislative candidates who were deemed to be at risk because of their opposition to the proposed constitutional ban on same-sex marriage. In 2012, at the request of former MassEquality Executive Director Marc Solomon, I reached out to and secured the commitment of former chairs of the DNC to publicly support marriage equality in the 2012 Democratic Party platform. www.dotout.org • @DotOUTBoston • facebook.com/dotoutBoston • instagram.com/DotOUT • Endorsement Night — Page 18—


Grossman Marketing Group has provided domestic partner benefits for many years. Last summer, the company served as one of the amici curiae in United States v. Windsor, 570 U.S. 12 (2013), arguing that the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) “forces us to treat one class of our lawfully married employees differently than another, when our success depends upon the welfare and morale of all employees.” Last year, I joined others in the investment community calling on large corporate sponsors of the 2014 Winter Olympics in Russia to speak out against laws in the country that discriminate against the LGBT community. As chairman of the Pension Reserves Investment Management (PRIM), I believe we can’t stand idly by when foreign governments seek to deny their citizens fundamental human freedoms. I'm deeply proud that we have a diverse campaign staff, including LGBTQ volunteers and staff, as part of our team. I am particularly pleased to let you know that all LGBTQ members of the State House of Representatives and State Senate have endorsed my candidacy for governor. 10. If endorsed by DotOUT, will you include this endorsement whenever you list, name or state endorsements (e.g. in promotions, flyers, letters to voters, ads, speeches and/or media interviews)? YES.


LT GOV – CHEUNG, Leland

CANDIDATE NAME: Leland Cheung OFFICE RUNNING FOR: Lieutenant Governor 1. What are the top three issues you would prioritize in your term? I'm running because I believe everyone throughout Massachusetts should have the opportunity to build a better future -- not just a chosen few born in the right zip code, with the right name, or with the right connections. As Lieutenant Governor, I'll use what I've learned working in the private sector, helping residents as a local elected official, and bringing innovation to fruition in both the state and national administration to build on Governor Patrick’s legacy of strengthening the Commonwealth. There are three Key Issues necessary to continuing to fulfill that vision. First, we need to invest in education - from Pre-K to affordable college to workforce training. Ideally I'd like to fund this via progressive taxation, but the funding mechanism is secondary to the need. As a child of immigrants, I know the transformative power a strong education and how that leads to careers, not just jobs, which help our children to achieve their full potential. I also understand the importance of ensuring that we protect our workers by ensuring that they have access to paid sick time, comprehensive healthcare, and job protections. As Lieutenant Governor, I will leverage partnerships with emerging industries in Massachusetts to make sure that everyone -- regardless of race, gender, sexual identity, hometown, or educational background - has access to a modern job and a living wage -- not just for the economy we have now, but in the economy we will build for the future. A second component is investing in infrastructure. Massachusetts needs to start thinking of itself as one Commonwealth and realize that what happens to someone in Pittsfield matters to someone in Boston. This means not only continuing the Patrick administration’s work to modernize our roads, rails, and broadband access to grow businesses, but working with our universities, community colleges, and vocational schools to ensure we have the well-trained workforce that allow businesses to thrive going forward. This is the only way to ensure that every metro area and gateway city in the Commonwealth is as attractive and prosperous as the Boston Metro area is and fundamentally necessary for equality. Finally, as one of a few dozen people appointed by Chairman Walsh last year to draft the Democratic Party Platform, and as the person who worked on more sections than anyone except the chair - there is no one more vested than I am in making sure those aren't just words on paper, but put into action. Crucial to that is ensuring equality for all. I wrote a lengthy op-ed on this which won't fit in to this box, which an be found here: http://www.lelandcheung.com/believe On the Cambridge City Council I have been a vocal advocate for the voiceless and a tireless defender of any one suffering www.dotout.org • @DotOUTBoston • facebook.com/dotoutBoston • instagram.com/DotOUT • Endorsement Night — Page 20—


discrimination. I have fought for and secured funding for our GLBT Commission. I was the crucial vote in making sure all city employees took home the same amount of pay whether they were in a same-sex or opposite-sex marriage (pre-DOMA demise), and have fought to provide funding for programs for LGBT seniors. As a minority myself, I realize that social progress requires vocal allies - I have nothing to gain by helping other groups being discriminated against so I feel it is incumbent upon me as an elected official to lead in that way. For example, I was the lead sponsor of every legislative order instructing the City Solicitor to sign on to the DOMA Amicus Briefs filed by GLAD. I will never back down from fighting for those being discriminated or prejudiced against for whatever reason. 2. Do you promise and pledge NOT to participate and/or march in the South Boston St. Patrick’s Day Parade if it continues to exclude LGBTQ groups from participating? I will NOT march. Have not; will not. 3.A. Do you pledge to support the state legislature’s bill An Act Relative to HIVAssociated Lipodystrophy Treatment? YES. 3.B. What actions would you take to ensure that all residents have access to HIV/AIDS treatment, services & resources? Throughout my tenure on the Cambridge City Council, I have developed a proven track record of advocating for increased access to HIV/AIDS treatment, services and resources. I have advocated for increase funding for Youth on Fire, a program of AIDS Action Committee of Massachusetts that serves as a drop-in center for homeless and street-involved youth and helped fundraise for Youth on Fire and BAGLY. I have worked with local social service providers to identify improvements that can be made to provide residents and homeless with increased access to vital physical and mental health services and transitional housing programs. I also sponsored a bill calling for the United States Department of Health and Human services to end offensive and inaccurate bans that restrict gay males from donating blood despite critical blood shortages nationwide. As Lieutenant Governor, I will work to increase local aid so that cities and towns are able to enhance local social service programs, particularly HIV/AIDS treatment and resources. 3.C. Do you support and rate as important HIV prevention programs and initiatives, given that new HIV infections continue to increase, particularly disproportionately among gay and bisexual young men, especially those of color? [TECHNICAL ISSUE WITH ONLINE SUBMISSION; CONTACTING CANDIDATE.] www.dotout.org • @DotOUTBoston • facebook.com/dotoutBoston • instagram.com/DotOUT • Endorsement Night — Page 21—


4. What steps will you take to decrease violence and increase safety for all residents in Dorchester? It is imperative that we take steps to decrease violence across the Commonwealth to ensure that each and every resident feels safe, comfortable, and secure in their community. As a Cambridge City Councilor, I worked with the Cambridge Police to implement CitiStat, a data analytics program that tracks crime, analyzes trends, and predicts future waves of crime so that police are able to direct resources appropriately. I hope to bring cutting edge technologies like this to communities across the Commonwealth. More importantly, I have fought to put more social workers on the streets, not just police, to connect non-violent offenders to pathway to a better life, not just time in jail, before they become so desperate as to become violent. I am in favor of tighter gun laws; however, the best way to have a substantial impact in decreasing violence and increasing safety is to invest in the education and support we give our residents and kids, offering them REAL pathways to careers that allow them to safely provide for themselves and their families. We spend more to incarcerate a criminal per year than we spend on a students education and more than many families make in a year. We need to invest in our values and provide real opportunity to all of our residents. 5. What actions would you take to ensure that attention is brought to LGBT victims of violence including domestic violence, and what have you done to reduce violence against LGBT residents? Domestic violence is a serious problem that impacts the ability of LGBTQ individuals to lead healthful, successful lives. I have advocated on behalf of increased funding for transitional housing programs for victims of domestic abuse, and affordable environments to live in after they leave shelters. As Lieutenant Governor, I will call for increased to prevention and education programs, emergency shelters and court advocacy programs. It is my priority to serve as a voice for the voiceless, and an ally to those fighting for equality on the statewide level. 6.A. Conversion therapy for minors, people under the age of 18, which seeks to change a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity or expression, has been shown in evidence, to be harmful to youth, and all leading behavioral and mental health organizations and associations oppose it due to lack of evidence, with science showing and noting its harmful effects. Anti-conversion therapy bills have become law in California and New Jersey (signed into law by Gov. Christie), and anti-conversion therapy bills are expected to be considered again in the coming legislative session in many states, including Massachusetts, which has a bill in place and ready for legislative action. (Other states expected to move forward with anti-conversion therapy bills, in reverse alphabetical order, are WA, PA, OH, NY, MN and FL). www.dotout.org • @DotOUTBoston • facebook.com/dotoutBoston • instagram.com/DotOUT • Endorsement Night — Page 22—


Do you promise to support Massachusetts’ state legislative bill against conversion therapy? YES. 6.B. As you may know, death by suicide is the leading cause of death among LGBT youth. Approximately 40% of homeless youth are LGBT, and approximately 28% of LGBT youth drop out of high school because of verbal and physical abuse, harassment or bullying. Given these startling statistics, what actions have you taken or will you take to address these important issues? Throughout my tenure on the Cambridge City Council I have repeatedly fought to make Cambridge schools more inclusive. This has included the allocation of appropriate resources to combat bullying in schools regardless of orientation, strengthening existing laws for cyber bullying, ensuring all school personnel are trained to respond to bullying when it arises. As Lieutenant Governor, I will use my position to advance these measures throughout all of Massachusetts 351 cities and towns. As mentioned previously, I have worked directly with local non-profits to support homeless LGBT youth who find their way to Cambridge because of the caring environment I've helped foster for them. 7. It is believed that there are anywhere between 1.6 to 3.2 million LGBT people who are age 65 or older. Many of these LGBT elders are invisible to mainstream elder service providers and also invisible to the LGBT community as a whole. What actions would you take to ensure that LGBT elders have access to elder services and resources and to increase access by making existing services culturally competent? I firmly believe that all seniors should have access to high quality local resources and services. They are some of our most vulnerable members of society, and we have an obligation as a society to treat them with dignity and respect. LGBT seniors should not only be able to access these services with the same ease as their heterosexual counterparts, but particular attention needs to be paid in terms of making them aware that such services are in place and ready to help them. I have working experience in expanding the local Cambridge Council on Aging fighting to allow residents to ‘age in place’, which housing assistance to those who require it. I have worked to fund programs particularly aimed at assisting LGBT seniors. Frankly though - this question is poorly composed. I was taught to respect all my elders. While special services are needed for LGBT elders, they face the exact same shortfalls in funding and services that many seniors face. Those shortfalls pose peril to their well being and LIVES, not only their ability to express themselves as who they are. Let's not lose sight of the bigger picture that there is a shortage of services and support, period. www.dotout.org • @DotOUTBoston • facebook.com/dotoutBoston • instagram.com/DotOUT • Endorsement Night — Page 23—


8. A. Do you pledge to support the state legislature’s bill, The Transgender Equality Bill? This bill would add gender identity and gender expression to existing state law against discrimination in public accommodations, such as restaurants, public libraries, and other public facilities, already in place regarding other protected classes (e.g. race, religion, sex, national origin, disability and sexual orientation)? YES. 8.B. Massachusetts’ education officials this past year have issued new guidelines governing the inclusion of transgender students, following the passage of state law in 2011 adding gender identity and gender expression protections to existing state law protecting sexual orientation to other protected classes in the areas of employment, housing, credit, hate crimes and public education. Do you support these guidelines? YES. 8.C. What actions will you take to insure the transgender community is treated with equal dignity and respect? I will advocate for the end of offensive and unnecessary stigma that federal, state, local laws put on LGBT Americans. Under the current wording of many laws ranging from the local to national level, gender identity often fails to be brought under the larger civil rights umbrella. Therefore, I find it necessary to include this language into the existing law - as I have already done on the Cambridge City Council - on the statewide level. We as a society have an obligation to ensure that we adhere to the equal protection clause as outlined in the Constitution, and therefore it is imperative to clarify laws bringing transgendered individuals under such protections. Title 8, Chapter 7 of the US Immigration Code is still titled Exclusion of Chinese, even though underlying law has been repealed. I WILL NOT STAND (candidate’s emphasis-DotOUT) for unequal treatment towards any group or community no matter what form it takes. Dignity and respect are not enough. I refuse to allow my daughter to grow up in a Commonwealth where she could be treated differently depending on how she decides to self-identify. I will support any law, advocate for any cause, and do whatever it takes until we have TRUE equality. Ever since I was first elected I have made my personal cell phone publicly available - not as a gimmick - but to be available to anyone in need of help or with an idea to share. It is 617 444 9080. I will take whatever action you ask of me because I recognize that we, sadly, still live in a discriminatory state despite how progressive we think Massachusetts is. The reality is I haven't walked in this community's shoes. I don't know firsthand all of the issues the transgender community faces. But I know that discrimination is wrong and will do whatever is asked of me to end it.



9. How have you supported the LGBTQ community in the past? As a Cambridge City Councilor, I have been proud to serve as an advocate for the LGBT community, whether it be by sponsoring three policy orders signing the City of Cambridge on as a signatory on amicus briefs for all DOMA challenges and calling on Congress to swiftly pass the Employment Non-Discrimination Act of 2013 to affirm the belief that a person’s sexual orientation or identity has nothing to do with the ability to perform their job by making it illegal to fire, refuse to hire, or refuse to promote employees because of their sexual orientation or gender identity. As Lieutenant Governor, I will call for increased funding to prevention and education programs, emergency shelters and court advocacy programs. I believe that civil rights, constitutional equality and racial equity are necessary components for a diverse, productive society. 10. If endorsed by DotOUT, will you include this endorsement whenever you list, name or state endorsements (e.g. in promotions, flyers, letters to voters, ads, speeches and/or media interviews)? YES.


LT GOV – KERRIGAN, Steve

CANDIDATE NAME: Stephen J. Kerrigan OFFICE RUNNING FOR: Lieutenant Governor 1. What are the top three issues you would prioritize in your term? I intend to be a full partner with the next Democratic Governor to pursue a progressive agenda and carry out the administration’s policies. I believe government must protect the most vulnerable among us, provide the basic services upon which we all depend, provide for the public’s safety and general well-being, ensure justice and equal opportunity for all, and create the environment for economic growth and prosperity. You will be able to count on me to be an advocate within the administration and state government to protect and preserve programs that effectively address the problems of the LGBTQ community. My first priority would be to ask the Governor to appoint me as head of a new Competitiveness Council to examine all areas of life in Massachusetts to determine how best to grow our economy and improve our quality of life. One of the Council’s chief aims would be to help workers and families better afford to live, thrive and enjoy a higher quality of life. Among other things, the Council would explore our state tax structure, government tax incentives, our education system from early education to public higher education, rising income inequality, worker training and transportation. Our goal must be to expand opportunities for all – in all corners of the Commonwealth and for people at every level of society. To ensure that state budget dollars are being correctly directed towards our most pressing needs, I would also seek to head a Government Efficiency Initiative that would look at state government from top to bottom. This initiative would be geared towards ensuring that precious state resources are being used correctly and toward their intended aims. I would also transform the Lieutenant Governor’s office into a first stop for communication from citizens, local officials, advocates, businesses, non-profits, unions and others with problems or concerns about state government – where they can not only be heard, but also get answers, solutions and results. The overarching goal of my priorities is to make better use of state resources so we can more adequately fund our efforts to help those in need, shore up our social safety net and prevent against the recurring practice of closing budget gaps by cutting critical social service programs.



2. Do you promise and pledge NOT to participate and/or march in the South Boston St. Patrick’s Day Parade if it continues to exclude LGBTQ groups from participating? I will NOT march. 3.A. Do you pledge to support the state legislature’s bill An Act Relative to HIVAssociated Lipodystrophy Treatment? YES. 3.B. What actions would you take to ensure that all residents have access to HIV/AIDS treatment, services & resources? I will consider it a personal responsibility to ensure that the Governor’s budget reflects the need to protect members of the LGBTQ community and others living with HIV/AIDS and that the Commonwealth makes every effort to afford them the protection, care and respect they deserve. My first priority in this regard would be to ensure that we adopt the necessary state funding levels for services and support for those infected, those family members and others similarly affected or at risk. I would work to build on our investments in HIV prevention and education services and support comprehensive sexual education in schools that is medically accurate and age-appropriate as part this education and prevention effort. I also believe we should fund increased HIV testing availability and work with insurers to provide better coverage for special drugs and treatments. A major piece in halting new infections is to increase awareness among and to educate a new generation of LGBTQ youth on the dangers of HIV, how HIV is transmitted, and the importance of prevention. 3.C. Do you support and rate as important HIV prevention programs and initiatives, given that new HIV infections continue to increase, particularly disproportionately among gay and bisexual young men, especially those of color? YES. 4. What steps will you take to decrease violence and increase safety for all residents in Dorchester? During my time in the Attorney General’s Office, I saw how our Safe Neighborhood Initiative, with its strong partnerships with community organizations such as the Colonel Marr Boys & Girls Club and the Paul McLaughlin Youth Center, were able to make a real difference. The answer cannot simply be on the enforcement side; community policing programs and dedicated prosecutors who understand the community a certainly part of the solution. www.dotout.org • @DotOUTBoston • facebook.com/dotoutBoston • instagram.com/DotOUT • Endorsement Night — Page 27—


The Commonwealth must play a significant and consistent role in supporting the programs that we know will work – prevention and intervention programs, neighborhood revitalization efforts, a more intense focus on rehabilitation and recovery programs for those struggling with addiction, and coordination with neighborhood businesses and health providers. What we have learned in the decades since the so-called Boston Miracle of the ‘90s is that success against the scourge of urban violence is no “miracle” at all. It is the result of hard work and sustained support for the programs that work and continued presence and involvement of leaders within the community. I will be a Lieutenant Governor that will not be tied to Beacon Hill but will be out in the neighborhoods and communities listening to local leaders and residents on how we are doing and what the state can be doing better. 5. What actions would you take to ensure that attention is brought to LGBT victims of violence including domestic violence, and what have you done to reduce violence against LGBT residents? The state has made great strides in recent years in combating hate crimes and domestic violence, but there is more work to do especially among LGBTQ victims to remove the stigma associated with these crimes and give victims the support and protections they need and deserve. I would be a point person within the administration for the advocacy and support groups within the community to ensure the state is doing it all it can to confront these issues head-on and that we address gaps in the system with the appropriate legislative remedies. I also will push for more training for law enforcement, social workers, health care professionals and others first responders to heighten awareness and sensitivity to this problem and the ways to best identify the signs of domestic violence among LGBTQ residents. 6.A. Conversion therapy for minors, people under the age of 18, which seeks to change a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity or expression, has been shown in evidence, to be harmful to youth, and all leading behavioral and mental health organizations and associations oppose it due to lack of evidence, with science showing and noting its harmful effects. Anti-conversion therapy bills have become law in California and New Jersey (signed into law by Gov. Christie), and anti-conversion therapy bills are expected to be considered again in the coming legislative session in many states, including Massachusetts, which has a bill in place and ready for legislative action. (Other states expected to move forward with anti-conversion therapy bills, in reverse alphabetical order, are WA, PA, OH, NY, MN and FL). www.dotout.org • @DotOUTBoston • facebook.com/dotoutBoston • instagram.com/DotOUT • Endorsement Night — Page 28—


Do you promise to support Massachusetts’ state legislative bill against conversion therapy? YES. 6.B. As you may know, death by suicide is the leading cause of death among LGBT youth. Approximately 40% of homeless youth are LGBT, and approximately 28% of LGBT youth drop out of high school because of verbal and physical abuse, harassment or bullying. Given these startling statistics, what actions have you taken or will you take to address these important issues? We have made great strides in addressing bullying in schools, but significant work remains to be done to ensure that strong anti-bullying programs are implemented to ensure that LGBTQ youth and children of LGBTQ families are protected in their places of learning. I will work with advocates to help members of the Legislature understand the importance of these protections to young people at these most vulnerable stages of their lives. I will make sure the Department of Education is fully committed to this effort as well as partnering with school districts and local law enforcement to make sure schools are properly addressing these issues and that police are properly trained. I believe we also can do more to leverage the combined efforts of government and non-profit organizations to help all troubled youth, LGBTQ and others, access support within their own communities. 7. It is believed that there are anywhere between 1.6 to 3.2 million LGBT people who are age 65 or older. Many of these LGBT elders are invisible to mainstream elder service providers and also invisible to the LGBT community as a whole. What actions would you take to ensure that LGBT elders have access to elder services and resources and to increase access by making existing services culturally competent? I believe it is an entirely appropriate and necessary role for the Executive Office of Elder Affairs to work to ensure appropriate services to LGBTQ older adults and caregivers that focuses on the prevention and elimination of discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity are available and accessible. I will work with the Governor and the Secretary to ensure that such a curriculum is developed within the first year of the administration and that the necessary attention is given to addressing the needs of this population. I will make sure the voice of the LGBTQ elderly community is heard within the administration and that our nominee for Secretary shares our values. 8. A. Do you pledge to support the state legislature’s bill, The Transgender Equality Bill? This bill would add gender identity and gender expression to existing state law against discrimination in public accommodations, such as restaurants, public libraries, and other



public facilities, already in place regarding other protected classes (e.g. race, religion, sex, national origin, disability and sexual orientation)? YES. 8.B. Massachusetts’ education officials this past year have issued new guidelines governing the inclusion of transgender students, following the passage of state law in 2011 adding gender identity and gender expression protections to existing state law protecting sexual orientation to other protected classes in the areas of employment, housing, credit, hate crimes and public education. Do you support these guidelines? YES. 8.C. What actions will you take to insure the transgender community is treated with equal dignity and respect? If we truly believe in equality for all, we must strive to create a society where every individual is afforded the rights and respect that he or she deserves. This is the next major fight for equality in our community. The truest test of our commitment for equality for all is how we treat each other. I will lead within state government to ensure that transgender people are free from discrimination in all areas of life and lobby the legislature to ensure equal treatment. There are some in our community who fail to appreciate that injustice against any in our community is injustice for all. It is time the entire LGBTQ community steps up on behalf of transgender rights. 9. How have you supported the LGBTQ community in the past? If elected, I would become the first openly gay Lieutenant Governor in the nation. I will use the unique platform granted the Lieutenant Governor to be a fierce advocate for issues important to the LGBTQ community – and important to me personally, as a gay man. As I did with my role at in leading the Democratic National Convention and the Presidential Inaugural Committee, I will use my position as a leader in state government to advance the cause of equality and fairness for all. As CEO of the Democratic National Convention in Charlotte in 2012, I was proud to oversee what was widely hailed as the most inclusive and welcoming national political convention ever to the LGBTQ community and the issues the community cares about. That spirit of inclusion included scheduling prominent LGBTQ speakers during high profile, prime time slots, videos on marriage equality and repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” and the first-ever national party platform that recognized marriage equality as a basic human right.



As a member of the Board of Selectmen in Lancaster when the town was considering a permit application for a local event hosted by the Boy Scouts of America, I successfully pushed the local chapter of the Boy Scouts to acknowledge that they did not support the national group’s ban on openly gay scout members. Also, I worked as a member of Senator Kennedy’s staff to gain passage of ENDA, going back to 1996 when Senator Kennedy first introduced the legislation. 10. If endorsed by DotOUT, will you include this endorsement whenever you list, name or state endorsements (e.g. in promotions, flyers, letters to voters, ads, speeches and/or media interviews)? YES. .


LT GOV – LAKE, Mike

CANDIDATE NAME: Mike Lake OFFICE RUNNING FOR: Lieutenant Governor 1. What are the top three issues you would prioritize in your term? • When I worked at the White House, President Clinton would often remind us that “the best social program is indeed a good job.” My first priority is not just creating and attracting jobs to Massachusetts, but specifically bringing jobs that pay a livable wage, jobs that create a career path and jobs that allow families to afford to live and work in Massachusetts. I am the only candidate in this race that has a track record of bringing jobs to our Commonwealth. • I will work collaboratively with public, private and academic sectors to align our education system, from early childhood and post-secondary education to vocational retraining, with the needs and opportunities of the 21st century. • The third pillar of a strong family, strong community and strong economy is access to housing. Securing the safety and well-being of families by increasing efforts to provide affordable housing and move the 4,100 homeless families into sustainable housing, working with non-profit organizations and public agencies to house homeless youth (recognizing that our LGBT youth in Massachusetts are at great risk). 2. Do you promise and pledge NOT to participate and/or march in the South Boston St. Patrick’s Day Parade if it continues to exclude LGBTQ groups from participating? I will NOT march. 3.A. Do you pledge to support the state legislature’s bill An Act Relative to HIVAssociated Lipodystrophy Treatment? YES. 3.B. What actions would you take to ensure that all residents have access to HIV/AIDS treatment, services & resources? I believe that health care access is a universal human right that should not be held hostage. I am currently serving my second term on the Board of Visitors at Fenway Health where I have been a public advocate for health care access and elimination of disparities for the LGBT community. When elected, I will continue to stand up for quality health care in every corner of our Commonwealth to make sure that every one of our citizens, regardless of age, sexual orientation, has equal access to quality healthcare. We must continue to remember that in order to move Massachusetts forward, we need to invest in our greatest resource: our people. www.dotout.org • @DotOUTBoston • facebook.com/dotoutBoston • instagram.com/DotOUT • Endorsement Night — Page 32—


3.C. Do you support and rate as important HIV prevention programs and initiatives, given that new HIV infections continue to increase, particularly disproportionately among gay and bisexual young men, especially those of color? YES. 4. What steps will you take to decrease violence and increase safety for all residents in Dorchester? I have campaigned on what I call the Massachusetts Promise. This is the promise of high quality education for every child, the promise of jobs that pay a livable wage and the promise of safe communities for us to live and work in. Among the initiatives established by the Clinton Administration was an investment in our police. President Clinton added more than 100,000 new police officers to our communities. I believe in the power of community police—officers dedicated to community and to our neighborhoods and the people who live in them. I often explain to people that though I was raised by a single mother, I was supported by a community. I believe that state and local leaders, residents and community activists can and should all be working in collaboration to address the needless violence that has threatened our neighborhoods and taken too many lives from mourning families. 5. What actions would you take to ensure that attention is brought to LGBT victims of violence including domestic violence, and what have you done to reduce violence against LGBT residents? One of the many incredible services for the LGBT population that is provided by Fenway Community Health Center is the Violence Recovery Program. Though this program existed long before I joined Fenway Community Health Center, it is nonetheless one of the programs that I believe in strongly. This program provides what I believe to be the three critical dynamics of addressing violence against LGBT residents: it builds awareness of the issue among LGBT and non-LGBT residents, it provides services for those affected and the loved ones of those affected by hate crimes or domestic violence or police brutality, etc. and it provides one of the most important underlying needs— respect. Though I am proud of the work of Fenway, I also recognize that much needs to be done to prevent such violence. Among the efforts I would support is more inclusionary education, more training for public officials around the sensitivity of this issue and I would use the pulpit of the Lt. Governor’s office to bring attention to such violence and work with community partners to implement other preventative and supportive measures. 6.A. Conversion therapy for minors, people under the age of 18, which seeks to change a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity or expression, has been shown in www.dotout.org • @DotOUTBoston • facebook.com/dotoutBoston • instagram.com/DotOUT • Endorsement Night — Page 33—


evidence, to be harmful to youth, and all leading behavioral and mental health organizations and associations oppose it due to lack of evidence, with science showing and noting its harmful effects. Anti-conversion therapy bills have become law in California and New Jersey (signed into law by Gov. Christie), and anti-conversion therapy bills are expected to be considered again in the coming legislative session in many states, including Massachusetts, which has a bill in place and ready for legislative action. (Other states expected to move forward with anti-conversion therapy bills, in reverse alphabetical order, are WA, PA, OH, NY, MN and FL). Do you promise to support Massachusetts’ state legislative bill against conversion therapy? YES. 6.B. As you may know, death by suicide is the leading cause of death among LGBT youth. Approximately 40% of homeless youth are LGBT, and approximately 28% of LGBT youth drop out of high school because of verbal and physical abuse, harassment or bullying. Given these startling statistics, what actions have you taken or will you take to address these important issues? It is my understanding that the Commonwealth’s bullying law bill is gaining support and I hope it passes before I am elected. That said, if it is not, I would be happy to use my position to encourage legislative leadership to bring the bill to a full floor vote in the beginning of the new legislative session. I would also encourage the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education to strengthen oversight and enforcement of the current bullying law. There are still too many stories of students who are being bullied while nothing is being done about it. The social and emotional impacts created by bullying at such a young age have not only immediate affects, but long-term impacts as well that could and should have been prevented. In addition to the above, I would work with the non-profit community to help alleviate this problem in our communities while the legislative process takes place. Having welcomed an individual in such a situation to join my family for holidays and connecting this person with sustainable housing, I have witnessed, first-hand, the struggles that must be endured. No youth, LGBTQ or not, should ever face such struggles—especially alone. The programs and services that we currently provide and the ones yet to come, are not enough; we must also build awareness of these initiatives so that those in need know how/where to access each program or service. My friend, who became a special part of our family, took his own life a year and a half ago. He had people all around him that loved him and knew him. Unfortunately, we did not know how deep his pain was—he needed help and he did not know where to find it and did not want to ask for it. Access and awareness are just as important as the programs and services themselves.



7. It is believed that there are anywhere between 1.6 to 3.2 million LGBT people who are age 65 or older. Many of these LGBT elders are invisible to mainstream elder service providers and also invisible to the LGBT community as a whole. What actions would you take to ensure that LGBT elders have access to elder services and resources and to increase access by making existing services culturally competent? Similar to the other issues and legislation discussed above, I would use my role to encourage and advocate for the older LGBT community. I would engage stakeholders and strategize on best tactics to support its passage. In addition, I believe this will involve an awareness/education campaign so that elected officials and the public understand that no person should be uncomfortable being themselves. Gay couples should not have to pretend to be something else later in life simply because we do not have facilities that understand their needs or would not discriminate against them. There is no reason why gay couples should not be permitted to live their entire lives with dignity and pride.

8. A. Do you pledge to support the state legislature’s bill, The Transgender Equality Bill? This bill would add gender identity and gender expression to existing state law against discrimination in public accommodations, such as restaurants, public libraries, and other public facilities, already in place regarding other protected classes (e.g. race, religion, sex, national origin, disability and sexual orientation)? YES. 8.B. Massachusetts’ education officials this past year have issued new guidelines governing the inclusion of transgender students, following the passage of state law in 2011 adding gender identity and gender expression protections to existing state law protecting sexual orientation to other protected classes in the areas of employment, housing, credit, hate crimes and public education. Do you support these guidelines? YES. 8.C. What actions will you take to insure the transgender community is treated with equal dignity and respect? I was the only candidate to use the pulpit of my convention speech to discuss the rights of our transgender friends and neighbors. I explained that when I served in the Clinton Administration one of the most profound moments I experienced was when the President talked about the unlocking of the human genome and how for the first time in human history we now have scientific proof that every human being on the planet is 99% the same. If we are 99% the same then the transgender community deserves every bit of dignity and respect that others receive, the deserve equal rights and they should not www.dotout.org • @DotOUTBoston • facebook.com/dotoutBoston • instagram.com/DotOUT • Endorsement Night — Page 35—


have to fight for it, it should already be granted. I am excited to use the office of Lt. Governor to create more justice in our society, to stand up for and with those who need a partner in state government to move the issue forward toward resolution. Again, the heart of the Massachusetts Promise is about social justice and economic empowerment, we need both these components for Massachusetts to reach its full promise and hope. 9. How have you supported the LGBTQ community in the past? I have been a strong and consistent advocate for the LGBTQ community in my nonelected life. Over the last fifteen years, I spent time working for progressive Democrats. When I served as Finance Director for the Angus McQuilken for State Senate campaign LGBTQ rights were a large focus for our campaign. During that campaign I was an outspoken supporter of equal marriage during a pivotal time in the fight. As an activist I was the only candidate in this race who stood with the LGBTQ community to protest in favor of Gay Marriage at the Constitutional Convention in 2004 wearing my homemade “Straight But Not Narrow” t-shirt. This distinction is one of the reasons why I received the endorsements of the Baystate Stonewall Democrats and the support of the two Stonewall veterans living in Massachusetts as well as the highest ranking LGBT elected official in Massachusetts (Eileen Duff) and major LGBT activists like Katherine Patrick the Governor’s daughter. They believe that an ally—whether straight or gay—is more valuable than a silent friend. In 2010 I ran for State Auditor. In my time as a candidate I never hesitated in fully embracing a platform inclusive of LGBT equality. I am currently serving my second term on the Board of Visitors at Fenway Health. In this position I have been a public advocate for health care access and elimination of disparities for the LGBTQ community. When I am elected, I will continue to be an advocate and partner for the LGBTQ community by leveraging the pulpit of the Lt. Governor’s office to bring attention and awareness to inequality and injustice. I would build on relationships with legislators to build strong coalitions of support. I will strive to earn and deserve one adjective that I am most proud has been used to describe me… an ally. I know and understand that the LGBTQ community values the critical need for allies in this continued movement for civil rights and equality. 10. If endorsed by DotOUT, will you include this endorsement whenever you list, name or state endorsements (e.g. in promotions, flyers, letters to voters, ads, speeches and/or media interviews)? YES. www.dotout.org • @DotOUTBoston • facebook.com/dotoutBoston • instagram.com/DotOUT • Endorsement Night — Page 36—

AG – HEALEY, Maura

CANDIDATE NAME: Maura Healey OFFICE RUNNING FOR: Attorney General 1. What are the top three issues you would prioritize in your term? As a civil rights attorney and former leader of the Attorney General’s office, I know that the job of the Attorney General is to fight for the people’s rights. First, protecting people’s rights, including civil rights, reproductive freedoms, consumer protections, equal pay, environmental protections, fair labor rights, and access to health care (including mental health). Second, safeguarding communities by working to reduce gun violence, protect children, tackle drug addiction and addressing the root causes of violence and instability in our neighborhoods through advocacy, prosecution and community partnership. A key provision of my comprehensive plan to reduce gun violence is to engage more clinical social works to work with youth and families engaged in violence, including through programs like YouthConnect. Finally, taking on the Beacon Hill culture of corruption. I don’t come to this race as a career Beacon Hill politician — I’m a leader in the Attorney General’s Office, a former prosecutor and a civil rights attorney, and I will be an independent voice for the people’s rights. 2. Do you promise and pledge NOT to participate and/or march in the South Boston St. Patrick’s Day Parade if it continues to exclude LGBTQ groups from participating? I will NOT march. 3.A. Do you pledge to support the state legislature’s bill An Act Relative to HIVAssociated Lipodystrophy Treatment? YES. 3.B. What actions would you take to ensure that all residents have access to HIV/AIDS treatment, services & resources? This issue is deeply personal to me. For many years, access to HIV/AIDS treatment and services was denied based on prejudice. Rising HIV/AIDS rates in the United States require both access to treatment and services for all. I will work to ensure health care access is never denied someone on the basis of their sexual orientation, race, gender, or disability status.



I will also support statewide age-appropriate sexual health education in our schools that is medically accurate and age appropriate. Young people must be educated so they can make mature decisions on delaying sexual activity, using contraceptives, and preventing unintended pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections, including HIV/AIDS. Schools should have the resources to teach students about how to be safe and how to form healthy, respectful, and non-violent relationships. Curriculum should help educate all students, regardless of gender, race, disability status or sexual orientation. As Attorney General, I will be an advocate for comprehensive sexuality education as a crucial tool in promoting sexual health and healthy relationships. 3.C. Do you support and rate as important HIV prevention programs and initiatives, given that new HIV infections continue to increase, particularly disproportionately among gay and bisexual young men, especially those of color? Yes, extremely important. 4. What steps will you take to decrease violence and increase safety for all residents in Dorchester? I am committed to eliminating the scourge of gun violence and addressing the deep public health and public safety crisis created by guns. Over the past decade, over 2,100 Massachusetts residents have lost their lives to gun violence, far too many in lowincome neighborhoods of Boston. That is unacceptable. As Attorney General, I will address the root causes of violence by supporting programs like YouthConnect, an innovative partnership that provides clinical social workers to at-risk youth and families engaged in violence. I will also lead on implementation of the new gun violence bill, which provides new tools to combat gun trafficking into our state and into Boston. I have set also forth a plan to use the Attorney General’s Office in new ways to target domestic and sexual violence, also far too prevalent in our cities, by partnering with community groups to provide safe housing and resources to victims, using AG settlement funds as well. I want to empower survivors and target violence by improving the response by law enforcement, working with our court system to improve outcomes, and combatting sex trafficking. 5. What actions would you take to ensure that attention is brought to LGBT victims of violence including domestic violence, and what have you done to reduce violence against LGBT residents? I am the only candidate for Attorney General who has put forward a comprehensive plan to address domestic and sexual violence. As Attorney General I will work to improve prosecution rates for sexual and domestic violence crimes, ensure that victims and families impacted by violence receive needed services, and reduce violence in the future by improving training and public education programs. www.dotout.org • @DotOUTBoston • facebook.com/dotoutBoston • instagram.com/DotOUT • Endorsement Night — Page 38—


Domestic and sexual violence harm individuals in every community, in every demographic, and in every socioeconomic class throughout our state. However, many people find it difficult to discuss these issues, and members of certain communities – including some immigrants, men, children, senior citizens, and members of the LGBTQ community – may be particularly reluctant to report having been the victim of a sexual assault or domestic violence. We need to expand preventive public education programs, improve outreach efforts to help survivors access existing resources, and build upon those resources. We also need to increase accountability for perpetrators, including by expediting the processing of evidence kits in our crime labs. As Attorney General, this will be a priority. As a former prosecutor and a civil rights attorney, I have experience advocating on behalf of survivors of violence. When I was a Special Assistant District Attorney in Middlesex County, I prosecuted domestic violence cases before both judges and juries. As Chief of the Attorney General’s Civil Rights Division, I sought and obtained protective orders on behalf of victims of hate crimes, and I worked with the Attorney General’s Victim Compensation and Assistance Division to ensure that those victims were able to access much-needed services. I worked on and supported the first human trafficking law in Massachusetts, which is a model for other states. I am also a longtime advocate for LGBT equality. While in private practice, I worked on an early challenge to the Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell policy. As head of the Attorney General’s Civil Rights Division, I sued the federal government and won the nation’s first successful challenge to DOMA. Within the office, I worked to pass and then implement the state’s landmark anti-bullying bill with specific focus on addressing hate crimes and cyberbullying against LGBT youth. You can read the full text of my plan here: http://www.maurahealey.com/issues/DomesticAndSexualViolence 6.A. Conversion therapy for minors, people under the age of 18, which seeks to change a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity or expression, has been shown in evidence, to be harmful to youth, and all leading behavioral and mental health organizations and associations oppose it due to lack of evidence, with science showing and noting its harmful effects. Anti-conversion therapy bills have become law in California and New Jersey (signed into law by Gov. Christie), and anti-conversion therapy bills are expected to be considered again in the coming legislative session in many states, including Massachusetts, which has a bill in place and ready for legislative action. (Other states expected to move forward with anti-conversion therapy bills, in reverse alphabetical order, are WA, PA, OH, NY, MN and FL).



Do you promise to support Massachusetts’ state legislative bill against conversion therapy? Yes. I will lead on this issue. Conversion therapy is a discriminatory and harmful practice that contributes to ongoing prejudice. 6.B. As you may know, death by suicide is the leading cause of death among LGBT youth. Approximately 40% of homeless youth are LGBT, and approximately 28% of LGBT youth drop out of high school because of verbal and physical abuse, harassment or bullying. Given these startling statistics, what actions have you taken or will you take to address these important issues? I have an unmatched record of leadership and advocacy on behalf of the LGBT community. I have prosecuted people for hate crimes and trained police officers and law enforcement on working with victims targeted because of their sexual orientation or gender identity. I oversaw the Attorney General’s Office’s work on the Massachusetts anti-bullying law and advised state agencies on the law. In addition to continuing our work to end LGBT discrimination at all levels and enhance resources for LGBT homeless youth, I have made protecting children and youth in Massachusetts a focus on my campaign. For that reason, as Attorney General, I will create a first-of-its-kind Child & Youth Protection Division to better advocate for and promote the welfare of children and young people in Massachusetts. This is the one new division I’m proposing to create and it’s been a key priority of my campaign. The new division will work to proactively advise DCF and other state agencies, and take the lead on protecting vulnerable children and youth by working on cybercrime and child pornography, youth violence and addiction, LGBT youth homelessness, civil rights and bullying, mental health, and school safety, and other issues that address needs and concerns of children and youth. The Division will engage experts in various fields relating to children to inform initiatives, pursue publicprivate partnerships, and work closely with children organizations, state and local agencies, and courts to improve delivery of care and services for this vulnerable population. The Attorney General also plays an important role as counsel and legal advisor to DCF. As Attorney General, I’ll work with DCF to ensure accountability because these children often have no one else to look out for them. This work requires independence and a willingness to take on long-established structures, and that’s the kind of independence I’ll bring to the Attorney General’s office. www.dotout.org • @DotOUTBoston • facebook.com/dotoutBoston • instagram.com/DotOUT • Endorsement Night — Page 40—


7. It is believed that there are anywhere between 1.6 to 3.2 million LGBT people who are age 65 or older. Many of these LGBT elders are invisible to mainstream elder service providers and also invisible to the LGBT community as a whole. What actions would you take to ensure that LGBT elders have access to elder services and resources and to increase access by making existing services culturally competent? The Attorney General must take an active role in protecting the rights of an aging LGBT population. We must work to ensure that elder care organizations are culturally attuned to LGBT couples and singles, and that no one is discriminated against in accessing medical services or to elder housing. That is a core civil rights issue for the next Attorney General and I will aggressively investigate and institute change where prejudice occurs. We also need to make sure that our service structures remain relevant and accessible for an aging population that is culturally distinct in all ways from seniors of an earlier generation. Much of senior care and services involve keeping people healthy and out of isolation. Our programs must adapt to be culturally accommodating to all elders if they are to achieve their purpose. 8. A. Do you pledge to support the state legislature’s bill, The Transgender Equality Bill? This bill would add gender identity and gender expression to existing state law against discrimination in public accommodations, such as restaurants, public libraries, and other public facilities, already in place regarding other protected classes (e.g. race, religion, sex, national origin, disability and sexual orientation)? Yes. I have been a vocal advocate for the rights of our transgender community and will continue to be. 8.B. Massachusetts’ education officials this past year have issued new guidelines governing the inclusion of transgender students, following the passage of state law in 2011 adding gender identity and gender expression protections to existing state law protecting sexual orientation to other protected classes in the areas of employment, housing, credit, hate crimes and public education. Do you support these guidelines? YES. 8.C. What actions will you take to insure the transgender community is treated with equal dignity and respect? I In my career, I have advised on and advocated for state legislation to end discrimination against transgender people and worked closely with state agencies and law enforcement to train on and support protections and equality for the transgender community. For this work, I was awarded the Carl Scortino Award by the Lawyers for Transgender Rights. My record is clear. I will ensure that Massachusetts continues to www.dotout.org • @DotOUTBoston • facebook.com/dotoutBoston • instagram.com/DotOUT • Endorsement Night — Page 41—


lead the nation in supporting transgender rights and fighting persistent discrimination in employment, education and housing. 9. How have you supported the LGBTQ community in the past? I have an unmatched record of leadership and advocacy on behalf of the LGBT community. In my campaign for Attorney General, I have earned the endorsements of the Human Rights Campaign, MassEquality, LPAC, the Victory Fund, the Bay State Stonewall Democrats and the Rainbow Times on the strength of my commitment to right for civil rights and equality. I am also proud to have the support of Boston City Councilor Ayanna Pressley, a great ally for LGBT equality and opportunity in Dorchester and the city of Boston. As Chief of the Attorney General’s Civil Rights Division, I developed and argued the nation’s first successful challenge to the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA). At the time, in 2009, President Obama was still defending the law and the majority of Americans were still opposed to equal marriage. I have prosecuted people for hate crimes and trained police officers and law enforcement on working with victims targeted because of their sexual orientation or gender identity. I oversaw the Attorney General’s Office’s work on the Massachusetts anti-bullying law and advised state agencies on the law, and advised on and advocated for state legislation to end discrimination against transgender people. I will ensure that Massachusetts continues to lead the nation in supporting LGBT rights and fighting persistent discrimination in housing and employment. Earlier in my career while still in private practice, I worked on overturning the Don’t Ask Don’t Tell legislation pro bono. 10. If endorsed by DotOUT, will you include this endorsement whenever you list, name or state endorsements (e.g. in promotions, flyers, letters to voters, ads, speeches and/or media interviews)? Yes, with great pride.


AG – TOLMAN, Warren

CANDIDATE NAME: Warren Tolman OFFICE RUNNING FOR: Attorney General 1. What are the top three issues you would prioritize in your term? 1.) We need to reduce gun-related deaths and shootings in our Commonwealth. I am encouraged by the new gun safety regulations passed by the legislature, which will save lives with better tracking of guns, stronger discretion for our police chiefs, provisions to protect our schools, and important data collection on suicides. As Attorney General, I will be the strongest advocate to protect our communities from gun violence and I am ready to move our Commonwealth forward by requiring smart gun technology on new guns sold. The state’s consumer protection law (Chapter 93A) allows the Attorney General to promulgate product safety regulations to protect the citizens of the Commonwealth from undue harm. This regulation has been used for everything from stopping fraud to ensuring that toy guns and teddy bears don’t have sharp edges. In 1997, Attorney General Scott Harshbarger used the consumer protection law to promulgate handgun safety regulations to protect children. The regulations were challenged in court and the Supreme Judicial Court upheld the AG’s authority to regulate guns in 1999. I will use this same authority to mandate smart gun technology on new guns sold in the Commonwealth. In the 18 months since the Newtown tragedy, there have been 74 school shootings and 52,000 deaths to gun violence. Every year, 7,500 children are injured by a gun accident. I won’t wait to use the AG’s authority to protect the health and safety of our citizens to do what Congress can’t – make smart gun technology a reality and save lives. This smart gun mandate is about improving safety and restricting access from prohibited users. It’s a sensible response, using technology that’s readily available today. My comprehensive plan to reduce gun violence is available on my website at http://warrentolman.com/smartguns/. 2.) As the father of two daughters, I am deeply concerned about campus sexual assault, as statistics show that a young woman is more likely to be the victim of sexual assault if she goes to college than if she does not go to college. The Attorney General regulates non-profits, and I will use the Attorney General’s Office to work with colleges to address campus sexual assault and protect students on our college campuses. This is a nationwide problem affecting our young adults and we need to act immediately to put a stop to it. We need a comprehensive approach to change the culture of these campuses because letting one more assault occur is unacceptable. We’re blessed to www.dotout.org • @DotOUTBoston • facebook.com/dotoutBoston • instagram.com/DotOUT • Endorsement Night — Page 43—


have the finest institutions of higher education in the world right here in the Commonwealth, making Massachusetts a magnet for very talented students. We will do all we can to make sure that our schools are the safest. As Attorney General, I intend to use the authority of the office to get Massachusetts colleges and universities to work together to develop practices to prevent more assaults. I will propose an annual summit of Massachusetts college leaders to share and revise best practices for putting an end to campus sexual assaults. I will create the position of Liaison on Campus Assault, which will work with the U.S. Department of Education and other Attorneys General around the country to investigate annual reporting, looking for potential anomalies and conferring with campus administration when they are identified. My five point plan to address campus sexual assault is available on my website at http://warrentolman.com/campus-assault/. 3.) Opiate abuse and addiction is a scourge in our Commonwealth and I have a vigorous plan to tackle this public health threat. I applaud the legislature for the recent passage of an opiate abuse prevention package, but more still needs to be done. As Attorney General, I will enforce Massachusetts’s mental health and substance abuse parity requirements and I will advocate for more beds for mental health and substance abuse treatment to address an alarming shortage of treatment options. I will hold providers accountable for over-prescribing and encourage prescribing drugs that are only in tamper-resistant form. My office will also find ways to stand up to Big Pharma and take action to protect our communities as these companies push dangerous painkillers like Zohydro, set to be sold in a form that is not tamper-resistant. I believe we must do a better job of reaching out to the community to educate residents about this scourge, and I will use the Attorney General's office to advocate for increased educational programs in our communities and improved monitoring for patients receiving large dosages of these dangerously addictive prescription drugs. My comprehensive plan to combat opiate abuse is available on my website at http://warrentolman.com/opiates/. 4. I will reinvigorate the consumer protection function of the Attorney General’s office by instituting a series of reforms aimed at increasing outreach and visibility. Consumer complaints have fallen from 140,000 in 1998 to less than 60,000 in 2012 and it's not because there are less scams today than there were a decade ago. I will use the full powers of the office to protect the people of the Commonwealth, and pledge that every person, regardless of their race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, or disability, will have a fighter in their corner looking out for their interests in the Attorney www.dotout.org • @DotOUTBoston • facebook.com/dotoutBoston • instagram.com/DotOUT • Endorsement Night — Page 44—


General’s Office. As Attorney General, I will hold frequent “AG-on-your-Corner” events around the state to hear directly from residents about issues, ensure a multilingual staff in the Consumer Protection Division to handle complaints from every corner of the Commonwealth, and I will hold office hours across the Commonwealth where representatives of diverse constituencies can sit down together with the Attorney General’s Office to confront challenges. More details are available on my website at: http://warrentolman.com/urban-agenda/

2. Do you promise and pledge NOT to participate and/or march in the South Boston St. Patrick’s Day Parade if it continues to exclude LGBTQ groups from participating? I will NOT march. 3.A. Do you pledge to support the state legislature’s bill An Act Relative to HIVAssociated Lipodystrophy Treatment? YES. 3.B. What actions would you take to ensure that all residents have access to HIV/AIDS treatment, services & resources? Access to HIV & AIDS education, treatment, services, and resources has always been an important issue for me. This virus is made even more deadly by the stigma attached to it that prevents some people from getting educated, tested, and treated. In the state legislature, I was the chief sponsor of a law requiring schools to include information about HIV and AIDS in the health education curriculum at a time when it was very controversial. I did it anyway, even though public opinion wasn’t on my side at the time, because it was the right thing to do. I will continue to fight for increased awareness about the impact of HIV / AIDS and continue to speak out against the stigma that all too often goes along with this virus. I will fight for increased funding for treatment, services, and resources. In my comprehensive plan to champion equal rights for all, available on my website at http://warrentolman.com/equality/, I pledge to fight for the expansion of substance abuse treatment programs that lower the risk of HIV/AIDS transmission. I will advocate for legislation requiring private insurers, MassHealth, and the Group Insurance Commission to provide medical treatment for lipodystrophy, a disfiguring side-effect of lifesaving, but highly toxic, HIV medications. I will support legislation endorsing scientifically-accurate and age-appropriate information and education about health, the risks of teen pregnancy and sexually-transmitted diseases, reproduction, and contraception in Massachusetts schools, and require that LGBT information is accurate and unbiased. I will fight to make sure that AIDS/HIV testing and treatment are readily available to everyone in the Commonwealth. I will speak out about the need for more needle exchanges because they help prevent the spread of this virus. I will support programs that increase access to www.dotout.org • @DotOUTBoston • facebook.com/dotoutBoston • instagram.com/DotOUT • Endorsement Night — Page 45—


reproductive health services for under-served populations, including communities of color, to reduce disparities in reproductive health and sexually transmitted disease contraction rates. 3.C. Do you support and rate as important HIV prevention programs and initiatives, given that new HIV infections continue to increase, particularly disproportionately among gay and bisexual young men, especially those of color? YES. 4. What steps will you take to decrease violence and increase safety for all residents in Dorchester? The most important responsibility the Attorney General has is to protect the people of Massachusetts. As chief law enforcement officer of the Commonwealth, I will utilize a statewide approach of coordinating state, county, and municipal law enforcement to collaborate to protect our communities, including Dorchester. Along with my priorities to prevent gun violence, combat opiate abuse, improve the consumer protection outreach of the Attorney General’s Office, and reduce campus sexual assaults, I will: •

Prevent domestic violence – I pledge to create a first of its kind Office on Violence Against Women within the Attorney General’s Office’s Civil Rights Division. See more in question 5 below.

•

Defend the right of women to make their own health care decisions – I applaud the legislature for renewing our commitment to protecting women exercising their right to make their own health care decisions and as Attorney General will vigorously enforce the Safe Access law to prevent harassment and abuse.

•

Enforce civil rights protections – I sponsored the Hate Crimes bill that added crimes against gay, lesbian, and disabled people to the list of hate crime categories and increased penalties for violations. As Attorney General, I will vigorously enforce our civil rights statutes to make sure that nobody is denied their equal rights in housing, public accommodations, employment, education, mortgage lending, or credit. I will fight to expand protections for LGBT individuals and in particular, the transgender community who are unjustly not protected under the public accommodations law.

•

Protect immigrant communities – As Attorney General, I will ensure immigrants and their families are protected from scams such as the unauthorized practice of immigration law and false foreclosure relief schemes. I will work to build relationships between immigrant communities and law enforcement so that residents feel comfortable working with authorities to keep our communities safe. I will advocate for legislation that limits Secure Communities to targeting violent and dangerous



offenders as well as legislation allowing immigrants to obtain driver’s licenses. •

Increase police training – It is a travesty that Massachusetts training budgets lag significantly behind the majority of states on a per capita basis. We have an opiate crisis in this state and we need to make sure law enforcement and emergency services are equipped with Narcan and trained in its use. We need to increase training in dealing with domestic violence situations and in dealing with different communities like immigrant communities and the LGBT community. Increasing funding for police training will ensure that we’re protecting civil rights, as bettertrained officers will be better-prepared to proceed judiciously. We also need to increase training budgets on many other things, across the board, to make sure that we give our law enforcement officers the tools they need to protect our Commonwealth and keep themselves safe.

5. What actions would you take to ensure that attention is brought to LGBT victims of violence including domestic violence, and what have you done to reduce violence against LGBT residents? I have a proven track record of standing up to protect survivors of domestic violence. I was the chief sponsor of the law creating the Address Confidentiality program, which enables survivors of domestic violence to keep the location of their residence secret, and I was a sponsor of successful legislation to maintain the confidentiality of the location of domestic violence survivor programs and rape crisis centers. As Attorney General, I will build on my record of protecting survivors of domestic violence by creating a first of its kind Office on Violence Against Women within the Attorney General’s Office’s Civil Rights Division, as mentioned in question 4. This new office will implement law enforcement and prevention policies, and provide oversight and leadership in the effort to end violence against women. Furthermore, I will advocate for new legal protections for domestic violence survivors, including the addition of “gender” to the state’s hate crime statute, and direct the staff in the Attorney General’s Office to obtain a “Civil Rights Restraining Order” against anyone who shows a pattern of targeted abuse. I’d also advocate for the increased use of a “no drop” policy, would allowing police to pursue charges against the perpetrators of domestic violence even if a victim decides to drop the charges. 6.A. Conversion therapy for minors, people under the age of 18, which seeks to change a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity or expression, has been shown in evidence, to be harmful to youth, and all leading behavioral and mental health organizations and associations oppose it due to lack of evidence, with science showing and noting its harmful effects. Anti-conversion therapy bills have become law in California and New Jersey (signed into law by Gov. Christie), and anti-conversion therapy bills are expected to be considered again in the coming legislative session in many www.dotout.org • @DotOUTBoston • facebook.com/dotoutBoston • instagram.com/DotOUT • Endorsement Night — Page 47—


states, including Massachusetts, which has a bill in place and ready for legislative action. (Other states expected to move forward with anti-conversion therapy bills, in reverse alphabetical order, are WA, PA, OH, NY, MN and FL). Do you promise to support Massachusetts’ state legislative bill against conversion therapy? YES. 6.B. As you may know, death by suicide is the leading cause of death among LGBT youth. Approximately 40% of homeless youth are LGBT, and approximately 28% of LGBT youth drop out of high school because of verbal and physical abuse, harassment or bullying. Given these startling statistics, what actions have you taken or will you take to address these important issues? I spoke out about this issue, among others, in a recent interview with The Rainbow Times (http://www.therainbowtimesmass.com/2014/08/09/equal-justice-lgbts-animateswarren-tolman-mass-attorney-general-race/). These statistics describe a situation that is completely unacceptable. It is deplorable that family rejection is a key contributing factor to the disproportionate number of LGBT homeless youth. I applaud the Governor for signing the recently passed Unaccompanied Homeless Youth Act and will advocate for funding for housing for all unaccompanied youth. In Massachusetts in 2014, no child should be left on the street without a home or a support system. Bullying is also a serious concern. I have pledged to provide resources for students and school districts so that laws to prevent bullying are uniformly enforced and students are protected. Sometimes bullying doesn’t accurately describe what is happening in our schools. Where students are the victims of sexual assault, physical assault, or criminal harassment, I will investigate and prosecute and work with law enforcement to ensure they take these crimes very seriously. I will continue my track record as a leader fighting discrimination and hate. 7. It is believed that there are anywhere between 1.6 to 3.2 million LGBT people who are age 65 or older. Many of these LGBT elders are invisible to mainstream elder service providers and also invisible to the LGBT community as a whole. What actions would you take to ensure that LGBT elders have access to elder services and resources and to increase access by making existing services culturally competent? This is a critically important element of LGBT equality. In some cases, treatment of LGBT elders can be so bad that open LGBT individuals will re-closet themselves just to protect against from harassment from caregivers, fellow seniors, or both. This is unacceptable. We are failing our elders, many of whom fought a very tough battle for the civil rights of those who came after them.



I support legislation requiring the Executive Office of Elder Affairs to develop a curriculum for delivery of accessible and appropriate services to LGBT older adults and caregivers. This has to be addressed in a comprehensive way. Government needs to recognize the problem and take decisive action to protect civil rights. As Attorney General, I will speak out about this issue and use the bully pulpit to demand action. Further, where civil rights violations, harassment, or assaults occur, I will investigate and prosecute those who would harm our elders. 8. A. Do you pledge to support the state legislature’s bill, The Transgender Equality Bill? This bill would add gender identity and gender expression to existing state law against discrimination in public accommodations, such as restaurants, public libraries, and other public facilities, already in place regarding other protected classes (e.g. race, religion, sex, national origin, disability and sexual orientation)? YES. 8.B. Massachusetts’ education officials this past year have issued new guidelines governing the inclusion of transgender students, following the passage of state law in 2011 adding gender identity and gender expression protections to existing state law protecting sexual orientation to other protected classes in the areas of employment, housing, credit, hate crimes and public education. Do you support these guidelines? YES. 8.C. What actions will you take to insure the transgender community is treated with equal dignity and respect? The best leaders lead by example. As Attorney General, I will treat the transgender community with dignity and respect and work with leaders and advocacy groups in the community to ensure the Attorney General’s Office is doing everything it can to protect their rights. I will speak out on issues that are important to the community, by advocating for a public accommodations law that finally includes gender identity as a protected class and advocating for inclusion of LGBT protections in the equal pay statute. I will also advocate for these protections and the protections that Massachusetts already provides on the federal level. Furthermore, I will make sure the Attorney General’s Office is a resource that transgender youth and parents of transgender youth can turn to for legal advice and resources. 9. How have you supported the LGBTQ community in the past? I have a proven record of fighting for LGBT rights, and have done so for decades. As a state legislator from 1991-1999, I was a vocal advocate for the LGBT community at a time when the community was not widely accepted, even in Massachusetts. I sponsored legislation to bring “domestic partnership” benefits to the city workers in Cambridge and www.dotout.org • @DotOUTBoston • facebook.com/dotoutBoston • instagram.com/DotOUT • Endorsement Night — Page 49—


Boston. I was the chief sponsor of a bill to require schools to include information about HIV and AIDS in the health education curriculum. I sponsored successful Hate Crimes legislation that added crimes against gay, lesbian, and disabled people to the existing list of hate crime categories and that increased penalties for all hate crimes. I also fought for funding for suicide prevention programs aimed at gay and lesbian youth. 10. If endorsed by DotOUT, will you include this endorsement whenever you list, name or state endorsements (e.g. in promotions, flyers, letters to voters, ads, speeches and/or media interviews)? YES.


12th SUFFOLK – ALLEN, Corey J.

CANDIDATE NAME: Corey J. Allen OFFICE RUNNING FOR: 12th Suffolk-Representative 1. What are the top three issues you would prioritize in your term? The top three issues I will prioritize in my first term are public safety, career focused education and increase use and production of renewable technologies within the district. 2. Do you promise and pledge NOT to participate and/or march in the South Boston St. Patrick’s Day Parade if it continues to exclude LGBTQ groups from participating? I will NOT march. 3.A. Do you pledge to support the state legislature’s bill An Act Relative to HIVAssociated Lipodystrophy Treatment? YES. 3.B. What actions would you take to ensure that all residents have access to HIV/AIDS treatment, services & resources? Work with local churches, non-profits and national groups to provide services needed for HIV/AIDS education and services to those affected and their families. 3.C. Do you support and rate as important HIV prevention programs and initiatives, given that new HIV infections continue to increase, particularly disproportionately among gay and bisexual young men, especially those of color? YES. 4. What steps will you take to decrease violence and increase safety for all residents in Dorchester? My work as a teacher, dean of discipline and community liaison has always been centered around critical thinking and stabilizing individuals and their surroundings. As a state representative, I will support proven methods of community development, such as outdoors markets, sporting events and social gatherings. I will also continue to engage “high impact” individuals and dialogue with them and their families to see what kind of resources can be provided before they commit crimes and/or enter into the justice system. 5. What actions would you take to ensure that attention is brought to LGBT victims of violence including domestic violence, and what have you done to reduce violence against LGBT residents?



I will use my position as a state representative to advocate for andapply for increased funding to amplify mental health services within our communities. In my work in the school, when students who are categorized as LGBT, I followed the Boston Public Schools guidelines to ensure that the issues they were facing were resolved and that they were protected to the best of my ability as a school staff member. 6.A. Conversion therapy for minors, people under the age of 18, which seeks to change a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity or expression, has been shown in evidence, to be harmful to youth, and all leading behavioral and mental health organizations and associations oppose it due to lack of evidence, with science showing and noting its harmful effects. Anti-conversion therapy bills have become law in California and New Jersey (signed into law by Gov. Christie), and anti-conversion therapy bills are expected to be considered again in the coming legislative session in many states, including Massachusetts, which has a bill in place and ready for legislative action. (Other states expected to move forward with anti-conversion therapy bills, in reverse alphabetical order, are WA, PA, OH, NY, MN and FL). Do you promise to support Massachusetts’ state legislative bill against conversion therapy? YES. 6.B. As you may know, death by suicide is the leading cause of death among LGBT youth. Approximately 40% of homeless youth are LGBT, and approximately 28% of LGBT youth drop out of high school because of verbal and physical abuse, harassment or bullying. Given these startling statistics, what actions have you taken or will you take to address these important issues? I have mentored LGBT students in my time as an educator, and as a state representative I will ensure that educators receive training on how to spot and address students that may be in need of additional services. I did not receive formal training, but because of my personal experiences and relationships, I was able to provide this service to my students, but realizing that my path is a unique one, I will avail resources to school and community personnel to methodically address this crisis. 7. It is believed that there are anywhere between 1.6 to 3.2 million LGBT people who are age 65 or older. Many of these LGBT elders are invisible to mainstream elder service providers and also invisible to the LGBT community as a whole. What actions would you take to ensure that LGBT elders have access to elder services and resources and to increase access by making existing services culturally competent?



I believe that neighborhood outreach, support groups and social actiivites are key to reaching out to elders. As LGBT elders, I am not familiar with why these elders would be “invisible”, but they are just as valuable as my grandmother, so I would do my best to provide them with the same services as if they were family members. 8. A. Do you pledge to support the state legislature’s bill, The Transgender Equality Bill? This bill would add gender identity and gender expression to existing state law against discrimination in public accommodations, such as restaurants, public libraries, and other public facilities, already in place regarding other protected classes (e.g. race, religion, sex, national origin, disability and sexual orientation)? YES. 8.B. Massachusetts’ education officials this past year have issued new guidelines governing the inclusion of transgender students, following the passage of state law in 2011 adding gender identity and gender expression protections to existing state law protecting sexual orientation to other protected classes in the areas of employment, housing, credit, hate crimes and public education. Do you support these guidelines? YES. 8.C. What actions will you take to insure the transgender community is treated with equal dignity and respect? With my legislative power, support bills that work to ensure that transgender community is not discriminated against and as a man, have regular dialogue with leaders and activists in the transgender community so that as I am in my travels, I can speak with authority on the issues that members o the transgender community are facing and denounce them. 9. How have you supported the LGBTQ community in the past? As an educator, I have a history of working with the most “at-risk” students, often times because they seek me out. My work has included mentoring and guiding LGBT students without discrimination, but with love and compassion. 10. If endorsed by DotOUT, will you include this endorsement whenever you list, name or state endorsements (e.g. in promotions, flyers, letters to voters, ads, speeches and/or media interviews)? ABSOLUTELY.


12th SUFFOLK – CULLINANE, Dan

CANDIDATE NAME: Dan Cullinane OFFICE RUNNING FOR: 12th Suffolk-Representative 1. What are the top three issues you would prioritize in your term? Continuing to secure resources and funding for my district, like the $500,000 I was able to secure for the planting of trees in Mattapan Square and along Blue Hill Ave, and the $250,000 I was able to secure with Senator Dorcena Forry for the renovation of Ventura Park in Dorchester Continuing to push for more mental healthcare access across my district, but particularly in Mattapan. I was very proud to bring mental healthcare to Mattapan for the first time ever by funding the new Mattapan Integrative Care Partnership. We need to keep pushing. I was also proud to vote for the most comprehensive change to our gun laws in over 16 years just this week. Gun violence is far too common in many parts of my district, and I will continue to use my vote and my voice to make our community safer. 2. Do you promise and pledge NOT to participate and/or march in the South Boston St. Patrick’s Day Parade if it continues to exclude LGBTQ groups from participating? I will NOT march. 3.A. Do you pledge to support the state legislature’s bill An Act Relative to HIVAssociated Lipodystrophy Treatment? Yes. 3.B. What actions would you take to ensure that all residents have access to HIV/AIDS treatment, services & resources? I look forward to working with my good friend and former colleague Carl Sciortino and the AIDS Action Committee of MA, as well as my colleagues in the Joint Committee on Public Health to find creative and practical ways to increase access to HIV/AIDS treatments for all of our residents suffering with this debilitating illness. 3.C. Do you support and rate as important HIV prevention programs and initiatives, given that new HIV infections continue to increase, particularly disproportionately among gay and bisexual young men, especially those of color? Yes.



4. What steps will you take to decrease violence and increase safety for all residents in Dorchester? I was proud to fight for and pass some of the most comprehensive gun law reforms in almost two decades this past legislative session. We must continue to try and keep guns off of our streets, and help people who are predisposed to criminal activity have access to better pathways for educational and career opportunities. 5. What actions would you take to ensure that attention is brought to LGBT victims of violence including domestic violence, and what have you done to reduce violence against LGBT residents? The domestic violence bill we passed earlier this year will be key in diminishing the occurrence of domestic violence within the LGBTQ community be mandating tougher sentencing for abusers, and providing programs that both help the victim heal and reform the perpetrator. 6.A. Conversion therapy for minors, people under the age of 18, which seeks to change a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity or expression, has been shown in evidence, to be harmful to youth, and all leading behavioral and mental health organizations and associations oppose it due to lack of evidence, with science showing and noting its harmful effects. Anti-conversion therapy bills have become law in California and New Jersey (signed into law by Gov. Christie), and anti-conversion therapy bills are expected to be considered again in the coming legislative session in many states, including Massachusetts, which has a bill in place and ready for legislative action. (Other states expected to move forward with anti-conversion therapy bills, in reverse alphabetical order, are WA, PA, OH, NY, MN and FL). Do you promise to support Massachusetts’ state legislative bill against conversion therapy? Yes. 6.B. As you may know, death by suicide is the leading cause of death among LGBT youth. Approximately 40% of homeless youth are LGBT, and approximately 28% of LGBT youth drop out of high school because of verbal and physical abuse, harassment or bullying. Given these startling statistics, what actions have you taken or will you take to address these important issues? The anti-bullying bill we passed earlier this year contained many components that will mandate better reporting requirements in schools where LGBT students are being bullied or harassed. It also mandates more efficient programming in our schools to prevent bullying or better deal with the aftermath for those being bulled. I was also proud www.dotout.org • @DotOUTBoston • facebook.com/dotoutBoston • instagram.com/DotOUT • Endorsement Night — Page 55—


to work with Senator Linda Dorcena Forry to bring mental health services to Mattapan for the first time ever. The Mattapan Integrative Care Partnership works particularly with youth who have experience violence-related trauma, but it will undoubtedly treat students at the Mattahunt School who are experiencing mental health issues due to harassment for their sexual preference. More generally, I believe that we must reduce the stigma related to mental health care services in certain communities, and start to view it as an essential part of overall clinical care. By increasing access to quality mental health services, we can provide better help for those in the LGBT community struggling with undue harassment. 7. It is believed that there are anywhere between 1.6 to 3.2 million LGBT people who are age 65 or older. Many of these LGBT elders are invisible to mainstream elder service providers and also invisible to the LGBT community as a whole. What actions would you take to ensure that LGBT elders have access to elder services and resources and to increase access by making existing services culturally competent? I will sit with management of Mass Senior Home Care and ETHOS, two of the largest elderly service providers in my district, to make sure their outreach efforts are inclusive of the LGBTQ community. Additionally, I will work closely with organizations such as MassEquality, who I am proud to say has endorsed my campaign, to make sure all elderly service providers operating in the Commonwealth are outreaching to and planning to serve the older LGBTQ population in MA. 8. A. Do you pledge to support the state legislature’s bill, The Transgender Equality Bill? This bill would add gender identity and gender expression to existing state law against discrimination in public accommodations, such as restaurants, public libraries, and other public facilities, already in place regarding other protected classes (e.g. race, religion, sex, national origin, disability and sexual orientation)? Yes. 8.B. Massachusetts’ education officials this past year have issued new guidelines governing the inclusion of transgender students, following the passage of state law in 2011 adding gender identity and gender expression protections to existing state law protecting sexual orientation to other protected classes in the areas of employment, housing, credit, hate crimes and public education. Do you support these guidelines? Yes. 8.C. What actions will you take to insure the transgender community is treated with equal dignity and respect? The anti-bullying legislation I was proud to support earlier this year will do much to make sure the transgender community is treated with equal dignity and respect, particularly in www.dotout.org • @DotOUTBoston • facebook.com/dotoutBoston • instagram.com/DotOUT • Endorsement Night — Page 56—


our schools where bullying is far too prevalent. I also believe we must continue to support the new guidelines extending protected class status to transgender students in the areas of employment, housing, credit, hate crimes, and public education. 9. How have you supported the LGBTQ community in the past? I have always been a supporter of making sure people can love whoever they want without being prejudiced against in school, in the workplace, or at home. I am a proud DotOUT member, and even helped build floats with my wife before the DotOUT parade last year! I will continue to use my voice and my vote to ensure that those in the LGBTQ community can count on state government to be a strong partner in protecting their rights. 10. If endorsed by DotOUT, will you include this endorsement whenever you list, name or state endorsements (e.g. in promotions, flyers, letters to voters, ads, speeches and/or media interviews)? Yes.
