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MassEquality PAC News

Massachusetts Votes for Fairness and Equality
MassEquality celebrates LGBTQ victories in yesterday’s election

A total of 20 candidates endorsed by the MassEquality PAC successfully won their races in yesterday’s general election, increasing the number of pro-LGBTQ legislators in the State House. MassEquality Executive Director Deborah Shields, JD, MPH issued the following statement in response:

“We’re pleased to announce that 15 MassEquality PAC-endorsed incumbents kept their seats in the Legislature, despite an inflammatory smear campaign launched by anti-LGBTQ conservatives targeting legislators who voted for the Transgender Anti-Discrimination law. In fact, all of the candidates who were targeted won their races. These victories send the clear message that negative campaigns based on fear-mongering and deception are ineffective when it comes to swaying Massachusetts voters.

“The PAC also endorsed five pro-LGBTQ challengers who won their races against incumbents, including two openly gay candidates. These victories increase the number of LGBTQ supporters on Beacon Hill, giving us more strong allies in the fight for full LGBTQ equality.

“We congratulate our winning candidates, and we look forward to working with them in the State House. These victories are proof that Massachusetts supports fairness and equality for all, and that taking a strong stand for LGBTQ rights is valued by voters in the Commonwealth.”

Winning MassEquality PAC-Endorsed Candidates – November 9, 2016

Governor’s Council

Eileen Duff (5th Governor’s Council)

MA Senate

Julian Cyr (Cape & Islands)
Senator Jamie Eldridge (Middlesex & Worcester)
Senator Eric Lesser (1st Hampden & Hampshire)
Senator Jason Lewis (5th Middlesex)
Senator Barbara L’Italien (2nd Essex & Middlesex)
Senator Stan Rosenberg (Hampshire, Franklin, Worcester)

MA House

Representative Cory Atkins (14th Middlesex)
Representative Evandro Carvalho (5th Suffolk)
Representative Mike Day (31st Middlesex)
Representative Dan Donahue (16th Worcester)
Dylan Fernandes (Barnstable, Dukes and Nantucket)
Representative Ken Gordon (21st Middlesex)
Representative Danielle Gregoire (4th Middlesex)
Natalie Higgins (4th Worcester)
Jack Patrick Lewis (7th Middlesex)
Representative Liz Malia (11th Suffolk)
Joan Meschino (3rd Plymouth)
Representative Denise Provost (27th Middlesex)
Representative Tom Stanley (9th Middlesex)
New! Updated Voter Guide for the MA General Election
The MassEquality PAC has updated its 2-page voter guide listing our endorsed candidates for the 2016 House and Senate races in Massachusetts to reflect the results of the September 8th Primary election. Please click the image below to download and print this handy guide and take it to the polls with you on Tuesday, November 8th!
Phone Bank for Our Endorsed Candidates
You Can Help Send Pro-Equality Candidates to the State House!
MassEquality endorses candidates for state-wide office who support our policy priorities, such as:

Protecting transgender people from discrimination

Banning mental health practices seeking to change the sexual orientation or gender identity of minors

Guaranteeing that LGBTQ seniors are treated with respect and receive culturally competent care

Providing our youth with sexuality education that is age-appropriate and medically accurate

One of the most important things we can do for these candidates is contact voters in their district to ask for their support. By volunteering to make phone calls for MassEquality’s endorsed candidates, your help could make the difference between sending a solid LGBTQ advocate to Beacon Hill or a legislator who will consistently oppose equality.

We have several phone bank opportunities coming up soon!

You can make calls at your home or at a candidate’s campaign office. All you need is a phone and a computer. If you would like to volunteer for a candidate on a particular day, please feel free to contact us, and we’ll help you find a volunteer opportunity that fits your schedule.

Please sign up using our Campaign Volunteer Form, and we’ll get in touch with you soon to let you know about phone banks and canvassing opportunities for candidates in your area.

If you want to volunteer for the MassEquality PAC in another way, please sign up using our PAC Volunteer Form, and we’ll contact you about your interests and our current volunteer opportunities.

Photo Credits: AFL-CIO America’s Unions on Flickr, CC-BY-2.0; MassEquality.
MassEquality PAC Congratulates Endorsed Candidates
[L-R: Jack Lewis, Juana Matias, Natalie Higgins, Rep. Danielle Gregoire]

Thursday’s Massachusetts Primary election was a busy and exciting one for us here at MassEquality. Of the 14 candidates endorsed by the MassEquality PAC who faced opponents in the September 8th Primary, 12 of them won against their opponents. The election results are a clear victory, not only for the candidates, but also for the LGBTQ community in Massachusetts. Our thanks go out to everyone who volunteered, phone banked, knocked on doors in neighborhoods, and most importantly, voted for these committed LGBTQ rights champions! Your hard work and support helped make these victories happen.

“We are very proud of each of our endorsed candidates in yesterday’s Primary election, and we congratulate them on their victories,” said MassEquality Executive Director Deborah Shields, JD, MPH. “The election results were a huge win for progressive candidates and champions of LGBTQ rights, and they demonstrate that supporting equal rights for all does not lessen a candidate’s chances of being elected. We are especially pleased that openly gay candidates Julian Cyr (Cape & Islands) and Jack Lewis (7^th Middlesex) won their races by strong margins, showing support among voters for LGBTQ representation on Beacon Hill.”

[L-R: Jen Migliore, Rep. Liz Malia, Rep. Evandro Carvalho, Julian Cyr]

“Even as we celebrate these victories along with our endorsed candidates, we are preparing for November’s General election when more of our endorsees will face challengers, some of whom work against equality,” Ms. Shields continued. “With the support of our members throughout the state, MassEquality will continue working hard to turn these Primary election wins into solid victories for fairness, justice and equality on November 8th.”

Congratulations to Thursday’s winners!
First-Time Candidates:
- Julian Cyr (Cape & Islands)
- Dylan Fernandes (Barnstable, Dukes & Nantucket)
- Natalie Higgins (4th Worcester)
- Jack Lewis (7th Middlesex)
- Juana Matias (16th Essex)
- Jen Migliore (9th Essex)
Incumbents:
- Sen. Sonia Chang-Diaz (2nd Suffolk)
- Sen. Pat Jehlen (2nd Middlesex)
- Rep. Evandro Carvalho (5th Suffolk)
- Rep. Marjorie Decker (25th Middlesex)
- Rep. Danielle Gregoire (4th Middlesex)
- Rep. Liz Malia (11th Suffolk)
[L-R: Sen. Sonia Chang-Diaz, Rep. Marjorie Decker, Dylan Fernandes, Sen. Pat Jehlen]

The MassEquality PAC will announce further endorsements in the coming weeks for the upcoming General Election on November 8th.

As Deborah Shields said above, many of our candidates will have serious competition in the General Election, some of whom oppose LGBTQ rights. This means that we’ll need your help more than ever to keep our LGBTQ champions in the State House.

Would you like to volunteer to support a pro-equality candidate in your local area? Sign up with our Volunteer Team, and we’ll get you connected with a campaign near you!

Are you interested in supporting the work of the MassEquality PAC and electing pro-LGBTQ candidates to office? Click here to support the MassEquality PAC.

Mark Your Calendar: The General Election is
Tuesday, November 8th—Don’t Forget to VOTE!
Download our Primary Voter Guide!
The MassEquality PAC has created a 2-page voter guide listing our endorsed candidates for the 2016 House and Senate races in Massachusetts. Please click the image below to download and print this handy guide and take it to the polls with you on Thursday, September 8th!
Don’t Forget: Primary Day is Thursday, Sept. 8th!
Image Credit: Dronethusiast.com

MassEquality is committed to helping pro-equality candidates wins seats in both the House and and Senate. The Commonwealth needs more elected officials that are willing to make championing LGBTQ rights a priority.

Below is our list of candidates that will be on the ballot for the primary on Thursday, September 8th.

Newcomers Running for State Senate

Julian Cyr – Cape and Islands District
Primary Opponent: Sheila Lyons

Nora Harrington – Norfolk, Bristol, and Plymouth District
Primary Opponent: Walter Timilty

Newcomers Running for State Representative

Natalie Higgins – 4th Worcester District
Primary Opponent: Richard M. Marchand

Jack Patrick Lewis – 7th Middlesex District
Primary Opponents: Phil Jack, Brett Walker

Juana Matias – 16th Essex District
Primary Opponent: Marcos Devers

Jen Migliore – 9th Essex District
Primary Opponent: Saritin Rizzuto

Senate and House Incumbents

Sen. Sonia Chang Diaz – 2nd Suffolk District
Primary Opponent: Roy Owens

Sen. Pat Jehlen – 2nd Middlesex District
Primary Opponent: Leland Cheung

Rep. Evandro Carvalho – 5th Suffolk District
Primary Opponent: Melinda Stewart

Rep. Marjorie Decker – 25th Middlesex District
Primary Opponent: Lesley R. Phillips

Rep. Danielle Gregoire – 4th Middlesex District
Primary Opponent: Michael H. Ossing

Rep. Liz Malia – 11th Suffolk District
Primary Opponent: Charles L. Clemons Jr.

Rep. Thomas Stanley – 9th Middlesex District
Primary Opponent: Stacey Tully

Rep. Tim Toomey – 26th Middlesex District
Primary Opponent: Michael Connolly

Don’t forget… The last day to register to vote in the Primary is August 19th!

Are you interested in supporting the work of the MassEquality PAC and electing pro-LGBTQ candidates to office? Click here to support the MassEquality PAC.

Would you like to volunteer to support a pro-equality candidate in your local area? Sign up with our Volunteer Team, and we’ll get you connected with a campaign near you!
MassEquality PAC Announces Next Round of 2016 Legislative Endorsements
The MassEquality PAC has officially announced its second round of endorsements for the 2016 Massachusetts legislative races.

First-time candidates endorsed by MassEquality PAC include:

Senate: Julian Cyr (Cape & Islands)
House: Jack Patrick Lewis (7^th Middlesex)
Juana Matias (16^th Essex)
Jen Migliore (9^th Essex)

“We are proud to endorse these first-time candidates in their races,” said MassEquality Executive Director Deborah Shields, JD, MPH. “We are confident that they will stand out as champions of LGBTQ rights and fight to end discrimination and hate in the Commonwealth.”

Senate incumbent endorsees include:
Senator William Brownsberger (2^nd Suffolk & Middlesex)
Senator Harriette Chandler (1^st Worcester)

House incumbent endorsees include:
Representative Paul Brodeur (32^nd Middlesex)
Representative Robert DeLeo (19^th Suffolk)
Representative David Linsky (5^th Middlesex)
Representative Smitty Pignatelli (4^th Berkshire)
Representative John Scibak (2^nd Hampshire)
Representative Tom Stanley (9^th Middlesex)
Representative Tim Toomey (26^th Middlesex)

“These incumbents have proven themselves as effective and strong supporters of LGBTQ rights on Beacon Hill and in their districts,” Ms. Shields added. “We are pleased to endorse them in their re-election campaigns, and we look forward to continuing to work with them in the State House on issues of importance to the LGBTQ community.”

For more information about our endorsement process and criteria, please click here.
MassEquality PAC Announces 1st Round of Legislative Endorsements for 2016
The MassEquality PAC is pleased to announce its first round of endorsements for the 2016 legislative races.

First-time candidates endorsed by MassEquality PAC include:

Senate: Nora Harrington (Norfolk, Bristol & Plymouth)

House: Natalie Higgins (4^th Worcester)

“Both of these candidates are effective advocates and longtime supporters of the LGBTQ community,” said MassEquality Executive Director Deborah Shields, JD, MPH. “Their experience and awareness of LGBTQ issues make them ideally suited to be influential advocates for the community on Beacon Hill.”

Senate incumbent endorsees include:

Senator Sonia Chang-Diaz (2^nd Suffolk)
Senator Cynthia Stone Creem (1^st Middlesex & Norfolk)
Senator Sal DiDomenico (Everett, Middlesex & Suffolk)
Senator Kenneth Donnelly (4^th Middlesex)
Senator Jamie Eldridge (Middlesex & Worcester)
Senator Linda Dorcena Forry (1^st Suffolk)
Senator Pat Jehlen (2^nd Middlesex)
Senator Eric Lesser (1^st Hampden & Hampshire)
Senator Jason Lewis (5^th Middlesex)
Senator Barbara L’Italien (2^nd Essex & Middlesex)
Senator Stan Rosenberg (Hampshire, Franklin, Worcester)

House incumbent endorsees include:

Representative Cory Atkins (14^th Middlesex)
Representative Christine Barber (34^th Middlesex)
Representative Evandro Carvalho (5^th Suffolk)
Representative Mike Day (31^st Middlesex)
Representative Marjorie Decker (25^th Middlesex)
Representative Denise Garlick (13^th Norfolk)
Representative Danielle Gregoire (4^th Middlesex)
Representative Kate Hogan (3^rd Middlesex)
Representative Kay Khan (11^th Middlesex)
Representative Liz Malia (11^th Suffolk)
Representative Jim O’Day (14^th Worcester)
Representative Sarah Peake (4^th Barnstable)
Representative Denise Provost (27^th Middlesex)
Representative Byron Rushing (9^th Suffolk)
Representative Paul Tucker (7^th Essex)

“Our endorsed incumbent candidates have a proven track record as champions of LGBTQ rights, and have consistently supported legislation that is vital to our community,” Ms. Shields added. “We are proud to endorse each of these candidates, and we look forward to working with them in the State House to ensure everyone in Massachusetts enjoys equality and justice.”

For more information about our endorsement process and criteria, please click here.