Heavy rain did not deter a massive turnout for Boston's gay pride parade. "Hundreds of thousands of people turned out to watch the parade yesterday and few people seemed deterred by the downpour," reports the Boston Globe.
Governor Deval Patrick marched with his daughter, Katherine, who is openly gay. This is Patrick's third gay pride march with his daughter. They first marched together in 2008 only days after Katherine publicly came out. After the parade, Patrick's re-election bid was endorsed by MassEquality, the state’s largest gay rights group.
"'How could we not?' asked MassEquality executive director Scott Gortikov. 'This governor has been with the LGBT community every step of the way.' Republican candidate Charlie Baker also marched in the parade, with his running mate, Richard Tisei, who is gay. When asked why MassEquality chose Patrick over Baker, Gortikov responded, 'Richard Tisei is not running for governor.' Gortikov said Patrick had shown his support through strong leadership, which included signing recent anti-bullying legislation and repealing the 1913 law that prevented out-of-state lesbian and gay couples from marrying in Massachusetts. Gortikov also stressed that Patrick is the only candidate running who supports a transgender civil rights bill, which would provide protections to 'some of the Commonwealth’s most vulnerable residents.'
Republican gubernatorial candidate Baker also supports marriage equality but the transgender protections legislation has become an issue for the GOP ticket. Baker opposes the transgender rights bill and it was cosponsored three years ago by his gay running mate Richard Tisei.
