Top state officials made clear Wednesday that Massachusetts welcomes people of all sexual orientations as they raised the Pride flag outside the State House and lambasted governors in other states for what they say are restrictions on LGBTQ rights.
As legislatures across the country consider bills restricting drag performers, transgender healthcare, and books they deem inappropriate, politicians in Massachusetts said the state is a “safe haven” for people from across the country. Their remarks come as Boston prepares for a Pride parade on Saturday.
There are “so many efforts to simply deny who we are and deny civil rights and protections, basic protections for people” in other states, said Gov. Maura Healey, one of the first lesbians elected governor in the United States.
“We are open for business in Massachusetts. Come to school here. Raise a family here, maybe meet someone here. Get married here. Grow a business here, vacation here. There’s so much about our beautiful, beautiful state and now should be a time when we’re inviting in,” Healey said to a crowd of over 100 people.
“I say welcome, Disney,” she added, tossing an off-hand jab at Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis.
DeSantis, who’s also a Republican candidate for president, has feuded with Disney over the company’s opposition to state legislation related to lessons on sexual orientation and gender identity in early grades that critics have since dubbed the “Don’t Say Gay” law.
In response, DeSantis took over Disney World’s governing district and appointed a new board of supervisors. Disney has since filed a federal lawsuit against DeSantis and the board the governor appointed.
Florida politicians, including DeSantis, have also championed laws that attempt to ban drag reading events. Montana became the first state last month to specifically ban people dressed in drag from reading books to children at public schools and libraries.
Massachusetts Senate President Karen Spilka said members of the LGBTQ community have faced many challenges in the past two years.
“So many states, unfortunately, I hate to even mention them like Florida and Texas, who seek to discriminate … trans, non-binary, gender expansive youth and force the LGBTQ-plus adults back into the closet,” the Ashland Democrat said. “No one should have to live in fear because of their sexual orientation or their gender identity.”
A federal judge ruled last week that a Tennessee law restricting draft performances in public spaces or in the presence of children law was “unconstitutionally vague and substantially overbroad.”
State Rep. Sarah Peake said when she saw the news that Tennessee had moved to restrict drag shows, she texted Sen. Julian Cyr to suggest the Bay State make a statement at the Pride flag raising that “drag queens are honored and welcome here in Massachusetts.”
Cyr responded saying “we should let the governor know about this idea,” Peake said.
“I texted Gov. Healy and I said, ‘hey, as an old activist and somebody who’s been fighting in the streets for our rights for the better part of four decades, what do you think about inviting drag queens to the Pride flag raising?’ Boom, immediately texted back ‘what a great idea,’” Peake, a Provincetown Democrat said.
A group of drag queens attended the flag raising ceremony, where they stood on the steps of the State House and performed for the crowd.
Neon Calypso, a drag queen from Boston, said she was placed in foster care in 2008.
“I have never felt as much as I do at home right now in front of everybody today,” Calypso said. “I’ve seen so many things change … in the state of Massachusetts … but the queer people have always been here and we are not going anywhere.”
Materials from the Associated Press were used in this report.