As Massachusetts lawmakers gathered outside the State House Wednesday to raise a rainbow flag in honor of Pride Month, House Speaker Ron Mariano excoriated discriminatory laws passed elsewhere across the country, including in Texas and Florida, attacking members of the LGBTQ community.
Mariano, echoing his angry tone from several weeks as the leaked Supreme Court draft overturning Roe v. Wade emerged, reiterated Wednesday morning that state leaders must remain committed to upholding equal rights.
The Quincy Democrat, who gave remarks Wednesday following Republican Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito, lauded Massachusetts’ bipartisan support in displaying the pride flag on Beacon Hill.
“You take a look around to some of the other states: The ‘Don’t Say Gay’ movement in Florida, whatever that really is. I never understood it,” Mariano said. “I guess they’re going to eliminate the word from the English language.”
The Quincy Democrat also rebuked Texas for repeatedly targeting transgender individuals. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott earlier this year directed his state’s Department of Family and Protective Services to investigate instances of “child abuse” tied to youth seeking gender-affirming care.
Escalating his alarming message, Mariano accused the Supreme Court of making decisions based on “political reasons, not of reasons of fairness and equity” while on the cusp of overturning Roe v. Wade.
“It is up to us to keep the discussion in front and center of everyone’s minds here in the U.S., as we face unbelievable pressures from right-wing groups that, just for the life of me, don’t want to see equality across this country — which is one of the great, sad stories of our time,” Mariano said. “But cheer up, cheer up — it’s not all doom and gloom ... We have a very aggressive LGBTQ caucus that works hard, that is on top of all the situations and will continue to work with us to make sure that we do the best we can to maintain rights for everyone in the commonwealth.”
Lt. Gov. Polito vowed that she and Gov. Charlie Baker are committed to leveling the playing field for everyone in Massachusetts, ensuring equal access to opportunity, as well as to a “good, and healthy and respected life” here.
“This is a beautiful day to display to the people of our commonwealth in all 351 cities and towns of our commonwealth in Pride Month that we are an inclusive commonwealth...,” Polito said. “I also just want to acknowledge that this display is one that is not just of today or of this month. It is to be embraced every single day of our year.”