Issue Position: Advocate for Equal Rights

Issue Position

A top priority for Representative Balser has been ending gender discrimination in insurance. She is responsible for the passage of a bill that prohibited gender discrimination in annuity policies. This term she filed legislation that would prohibit gender discrimination in disability policies.

Representative Balser was proud to have worked with her colleagues to protect equal marriage rights in Massachusetts. During the first constitutional convention on this issue Representative Balser received an "A" from the Boston Phoenix for her speech. Here's what the Boston Phoenix had to say:

"Separate but equal is not a part of civil rights, it is a violation of civil rights," Balser said near the beginning of one of the most thoughtfully constructed and argumentative speeches of the day. She pierced the argument that marriage has been hetero for millenia with the magnificent observation that "we have a historic opportunity to expand our definition of love and marriage." She read from an American Psychological Association report to refute arguments that same-sex marriage is bad for children. She spoke of other movements for equality that had faced opposition. In scope, language, and passionate delivery, Balser's speech may have been the best of the day.

Representative Balser continues to fight for equal rights for the LGBT community. She co-sponsored legislation that grants equal rights to transgender individuals, signed into law by Governor Patrick. She is the co-sponsor of legislation that would extend the protections to trangendered individuals to public accommodations.

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