Attorney Generals' offices press releases: on Civil Rights
Mark Brnovich:
Business shouldn't have to make gender transition cake
Brnovich is leading a coalition in supporting free speech rights of small business owners. "There are many costs of doing business, but they do not include your civil rights," said Brnovich. "Small business owners maintain the ability to express
themselves in their words and their work." Jack Phillips declined to make a custom cake celebrating a gender transition because "[i]t would violate [his] religious beliefs to send a message to anyone that he would celebrate a gender transition."
Source: AZ Attorney General press release, "Business Speech"
Nov 19, 2021
Martha Coakley:
More women should take active role in policy discussions
Attorney General Martha Coakley delivered the keynote address at the Women2Women International Leadership Conference. Coakley discussed the challenges she faced in pursuing a career as a lawyer, prosecutor, and now elected official. "It's important that
women take an active role in the policy discussions and decision making that shape our society and the world," Coakley said, encouraging "further participation in your local communities and further developing your leadership skills."
Source: Attorney General Press release on website www.mass.gov
Aug 6, 2009
Martha Coakley:
Penalize racially-motivated crime as civil rights violation
Attorney General Martha Coakley's Office obtained a civil rights injunction against two men charged with a racially motivated attack in Worcester. The order prohibits the alleged perpetrators from violating the civil rights of the victims and all others
in the Commonwealth based upon their actual or perceived race, color, ethnicity or national origin. A violation of the injunction is a criminal offense punishable by a fine of up to $5,000 and two and a half years in a House of Correction, or if bodily
injury results from such violation, a $10,000 fine and up to 10 years in State Prison. "Unprovoked, racially motivated attacks like this cannot and will not be tolerated in Massachusetts. These incidents not only affect the victims,
but the community as a whole," said Coakley. "Fortunately, the community responded to this incident with a swift and strong message reaffirming its collaborative commitment to securing the civil rights of all its citizens."
Source: Attorney General Press release on website www.mass.gov
Jul 9, 2009
Martha Coakley:
Anti-gay hate crimes devastate victims & communities
Attorney General Coakley's Office has obtained a Final Judgment imposing a five year civil rights injunction against a Quincy man accused of committing a bias-motivated attack on a Quincy resident because of his perceived sexual orientation. The Final
Judgment prohibits the alleged perpetrator from threatening the victim on the basis of actual or perceived sexual orientation. A violation of the injunction is a criminal offense punishable by a fine of $5,000 & 30 months in a house of correction, or if
bodily injury results from such violation, a $10,000 fine and up to ten years in state prison."We know the uniquely devastating impact that hate crimes have on victims and communities," said Coakley. "Our office is committed to enforcing the state's
civil rights laws to protect residents and visitors to the Commonwealth."
The Attorney General's lawsuit stems from an attack on a gay man in Feb. 2008, where the alleged perpetrator engaged in a physical assault while using anti-gay slurs.
Source: Attorney General Press release on website www.mass.gov
Jul 8, 2009
Martha Coakley:
Federal DOMA violates rights of same-sex couples
Coakley filed a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of the federal Defense of Marriage Act ("DOMA"). The law, which defines marriage as a union between one man and one woman, unfairly excludes more than 16,000 Massachusetts married same-sex couples
and their families from critically important rights and protections based on marital status. The complaint alleges that DOMA violates the US Constitution by interfering with the Commonwealth's sovereign authority to define and regulate the marital status
of its residents. The complaint also alleges that Congress does not have a valid reason for requiring Massachusetts to treat married same-sex couples differently from all other married couples.Coakley said, "DOMA affects residents of
Massachusetts in very real and very negative ways by depriving access to important economic safety nets and other protections that couples count on when they marry and that help them to take care of one another and their families."
Source: Attorney General Press release on website www.mass.gov
Jul 8, 2009
Richard Blumenthal:
CT statutes do not allow same-sex marriage licenses
Attorney General Richard Blumenthal today released a legal opinion saying same-sex couples cannot marry in Connecticut, because our statutes do not allow or authorize issuance of marriage licenses to same-sex couples. Blumenthal issued his opinion in
response to written inquiries by municipal officials on how to respond to same-sex couples seeking marriage licenses in Connecticut towns and cities."Under current law, same-sex couples cannot legally marry in Connecticut," Blumenthal said. "The
legislature has provided no legal authority to issue a marriage license to a same-sex couple. Whatever our own personal beliefs, we are bound by the laws adopted by our legislature and interpreted by our courts. Our law can be altered--and is developing
--but that is the responsibility of our General Assembly."
"We decline to answer another legal question: To what extent will Connecticut recognize same-sex marriages performed out of state? An answer would require me to make law, not interpret it."
Source: Connecticut Attorney General's Office Press Release
May 17, 2004
Shannon Liss-Riordan:
Tackle discrimination in housing, employment, education
Throughout her legal career, Shannon has taken on major civil rights cases to combat systemic racism and discrimination. As Attorney General Shannon will increase resources to the Civil Rights Division and ramp up enforcement of our civil rights
laws on a systemic level. Shannon will ensure that the Office's civil rights attorneys work across bureaus and divisions to tackle discrimination effectively in housing, employment, education, public accommodations, and more.
Source: Mass. 2022 Attorney General press release ShannonForAG.com
Sep 6, 2022
Shannon Liss-Riordan:
Ensure state remains a safe haven for all LGBTQ+ people
With a troubling number of states implementing legislation targeting LGBTQ+ youth--particularly transgender youth--Shannon is committed to ensuring that Massachusetts remains a safe haven for all LGBTQ+ people. Shannon will ramp up enforcement of our
civil rights laws to root out discrimination against LGBTQ+ indivduals, particularly in housing and employment where such discrimination is still persistent. Shannon will support efforts to implement LGBTQ+-inclusive curriculum in schools.
Source: Mass. 2022 Attorney General press release ShannonForAG.com
Sep 6, 2022
Xavier Becerra:
Protect transgender students and adults
Attorney General Becerra is committed to protecting the rights of all people. Recognizing that discrimination has no place in our society,
Attorney General Becerra is fighting to protect transgender students and adults across the nation, and strictly enforcing the recently enacted California law that prohibits state-funded travel to states that discriminate against LGBTQ communities.
Source: California Attorney General website: Press Release
Dec 16, 2020
Page last updated: Aug 04, 2024