Past and present Senate candidates from Massachusetts: on Civil Rights

Heidi Wellman: Comfortable with same-sex marriage

A: YES

Geoff Diehl: Elizabeth Warren wrongfully claimed a minority appointment

Beth Lindstrom: Supports state law legalizing same sex marriage

Shiva Ayyadurai: Only a real Indian can defeat a fake Indian

Shiva Ayyadurai: It's about free speech, not against Black Lives Matter

The August 19 event, held at the Common's Parkman Bandstand, ended prematurely ahead of the arrival of thousands of marchers organized by Black Lives Matter. Police in anticipation of the rally ringed the bandstand with a series of barriers, preventing rally-goers from moving within less than a football field's length from where speakers assembled. Ayyadurai demands an acknowledgment that Walsh was "wrong in mischaracterizing the approximately 40 people in the Parkman Bandstand as a hate group and as sympathetic to white supremacy."

Ayyadurai is also demanding Walsh "acknowledge the sincerity of the group's commitment to free speech." Ayyadurai himself at one point, according to video he has from the event, declared "black lives do matter."

Bruce Skarin: I am not just a supporter, but an advocate for gay rights

I am not just a supporter, but an advocate for the estimated 9 million Americans suffering through the final major civil rights battle our country will ever face. I expect fights for complete equality will continue as they do for gender and racial equality today, but it is time to end this last battle to end legal discrimination. Since the founding of our country, generations past have been on the wrong side of equal rights. We were once wrong on slavery, women's suffrage, racial discrimination, and we are now on the wrong side of history for LGBT rights.

Brian Herr: Supports gay marriage as an issue of equal rights

Elizabeth Warren: We need a reliable vote for equal pay for equal work

Brown shot back that "I didn't vote for your boss," a reference to Justice Elena Kagan, who was dean of the Harvard Law School. He said Kagan didn't have the requisite judicial experience.

Richard Tisei: Voted NO on defining marriage as one man and one woman

Vote on a proposed Constitutional amendment: "It being the public policy of the Commonwealth to protect the unique relationship of marriage, only the union of one man and one woman shall be valid or recognized as a marriage in Massachusetts. This article is self-executing, but the General Court may enact laws... establishing civil unions."

Relevant platform section:Part I: Families & Children: Domestic Partnership: "We oppose actions that would define marriage solely as a relationship between a man and a woman, and that would ban the recognition of any other relationship as marriage or its legal equivalent. We oppose efforts that would ban the provision of any benefits to gay and lesbian families that are now granted exclusively to married couples."

Source citation: Constitutional Amendment ; vote number 522

Richard Tisei: Opposed $200K reduction to blind job program

Override Gov. Romney's veto of a Budget Line Item which reduced by $200,000 the fundi for the Ferguson Industries for the Blind, which employs blind individuals as well as providing them an opportunity for socialization and a chance to mingle with peers, learn daily living skills and gain a feeling of independence.

Relevant platform section: PART I: FAMILIES & CHILDREN, DIVERSITY & COMMUNITY: Persons with Disabilities: "We reaffirm our support for The Americans with Disabilities Act and other laws to prevent discrimination on the basis of disability, and for efforts to bring the Commonwealth into full ADA compliance. We believe state assistance should be made more readily available for community-based care, and should not be inappropriately biased toward institutional settings."

Source citation: Veto Override ; vote number 25

Richard Tisei: Supported $900K for disability & mentoring aid

Override Gov. Romney's reduction of a Budget Line Item which cut: $99,000 for Special Olympics Massachusetts; $304,000 for Work, Inc. and $500,000 for Best Buddies Massachusetts [two programs for job training of people with disabilities].

Relevant platform section: PART I: FAMILIES & CHILDREN, DIVERSITY & COMMUNITY: Persons with Disabilities: "We believe state assistance should be made more readily available for community-based care, and should not be inappropriately biased toward institutional settings."

Source citation: Veto Override ; vote number 254

Richard Tisei: Opposed "Turning 22" mental disability program

Override Gov. Romney's veto of a Budget Line Item which eliminated state funding for the "Turning 22" program, which provides residential and treatment services for severely disabled individuals (who are mandated to exit other state programs after age 21). "Turning 22" is designed to allow a person to remain where his or her family lives.

Relevant platform section: PART III: HEALTH CARE, ACCESS & CHOICE: Mental Health: "Our Party supports the full implementation of mental health policies which will provide emergence care, family support, and appropriate housing to our citizens with chronic mental health disorders."

Source citation: Veto Override ; vote number 253