On Monday, State Senator Cheryl Jacques received her first endorsement from a local gay group when the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Political Alliance of Massachusetts voted to support her candidacy for the Ninth Congressional District. Before Jacques entered the race to replace former congressman Joe Moakley, who died of leukemia on Memorial Day, gay support was coalescing around State Senator Brian Joyce. Joyce has impressed many activists with his advocacy of a bill that would legalize domestic-partnership benefits for municipal employees. While polls show Jacques and Joyce splitting the progressive vote on some issues, such as abortion, the Alliance endorsement indicates that Jacques may succeed in winning a large majority of progressive gay support.

" She had very strong support, " says Alliance PAC chair Michelle LaPointe. " There was some pretty heartfelt testimony about the importance of supporting an out lesbian. "

The group was also impressed with Jacques’s record as a senator, pointing to her support for the state’s innovative Safe Schools program (which educates teachers and administrators about the importance of providing a supportive environment for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender youth) and her advocacy of domestic-partnership benefits. The group was also happy to hear Jacques say she would work in Congress to overturn the federal Defense of Marriage Act.

The endorsement vote was taken after Alliance members heard 10-minute pitches from each of the candidates except for State Senator Stephen Lynch, who didn’t attend the meeting. (Candidate John Taylor was in Washington at a fundraiser, but he was represented by his son, John Taylor Jr.)

Jacques’s spokesperson, Angus McQuilken, termed the endorsement " great news. "

" It’s gratifying to see they’re recognizing her leadership and supporting her in this race, " he added, referring to the gay community.

In the weeks since Jacques announced her bid for Congress, she’s received the support of EMILY’s List, a national political-action committee that supports pro-choice female candidates, as well as the endorsements of Planned Parenthood and the Human Rights Campaign, which is the country’s largest gay-rights group.

Issue Date: August 9 - 16, 2001