As president of CABC, Adams spoke out about the paucity of minority journalists in the media. In June 2001,
she was featured in an American Journalism Review article about the declining number of minority journalists in Connecticut.
Discrimination on the basis of gender identity or expression [which] means a person's gender-related identity, appearance or behavior, whether or not that is different from that traditionally associated with the
person's physiology or assigned sex at birth, which gender-related identity can be shown by providing evidence including medical history, care or treatment of the gender-related identity; consistent and uniform assertion of the gender-related identity;
or any other evidence that the gender-related identity is sincerely held, part of a person's core identity or not being asserted for an improper purpose. Legislative outcome:Bill passed House, 77-62; signed by Gov. Malloy, 7/1/2011
Source: Connecticut legislative voting record on HB 6599
Jul 1, 2011
Dan Malloy:
Prohibit "conversion therapy" of gay youth
Legislative Summary: HB 6695: Protection of youth from conversion therapy. Prohibiting any licensed professional from engaging in conversion therapy with a person under the age of 18 in the state."Conversion therapy" means any practice
administered to a person under 18 years of age that seeks to change the person's sexual orientation or gender identity, including any effort to change gender expression or to eliminate or reduce sexual or romantic attraction or feelings toward persons
of the same gender. "Conversion therapy" does not include counseling intended to:
- Assist a person undergoing gender transition,
- Provide acceptance, support and understanding to the person, or
- Facilitate the person's social support or
identity development, including addressing unlawful conduct or unsafe sexual practices.
Legislative Outcome: Passed Senate 36-0-0 on 3/31; passed House 141-8-2 on 5/2; Gov Malloy signed 5/15/2017
Source: Connecticut legislative voting records: HB 6695
May 15, 2017
Joe Visconti:
Labelled Chinese candidate as "Kim Jong Tong"
Perennial Republican candidate Joe Visconti tweeted a photo of Democrat William Tong afternoon labeling Tong, who is Chinese, "Kim Jong Tong." The tweet was condemned by state Democrats, who called on Republicans to reject Visconti's "thinly veiled
racist language."Tong, a state representative from Stamford, is running for attorney general. If elected, he would be the first Asian-American to hold statewide office in Connecticut.
Visconti, a Trump supporter whose only elective position was a
single term on the West Hartford town council, has never met Tong, but decided to tweet after watching one of Tong's television commercials. "He's acting like a tyrant. In his television ads using President Trump, it just looks like the debate between
(leader of North Korea) Kim Jong Un and Donald Trump," said Visconti. "He just happens to be of Asian descent." Tong promises to oppose President Donald Trump's policies in campaign advertising.
Source: CT Post on 2018 Connecticut gubernatorial race
Aug 16, 2018
Leora Levy:
Opposes trans rights: boys don't belong in girls' sports
During that speech, Levy reminded supporters of her opposition to job-related vaccine requirements, and abortion and
transgender rights. "There is a difference between boys and girls," she said. "Boys do not belong in girls' sports or in their locker rooms."
Source: The CT Mirror on 2022 Connecticut Senate race
Aug 2, 2022
Linda McMahon:
Allow gays to openly serve in military, but do it cautiously
An unexpected questions from a reporter about gay rights produced a commitment to allow gays to openly serve in the military and an expression of her reservations about the Defense of Marriage Act. McMahon describes herself as a fiscal conservative and
a social moderate. She favors abortion rights and, as it emerged during the interview, gay rights."I don't think we should have discrimination. My vote would be that we don't have 'Don't ask, don't tell.' But I think it ought to be implemented in a
very cautious way," she said.
McMahon initially hedged when asked about the Defense of Marriage Act, a federal law signed by President Clinton that defines marriage as between a man and a woman. It also
allows states to refuse to recognize same-sex marriages performed in states where they are legal, such as Connecticut. "I do think it's a state's right issue," she said. But when pressed, McMahon said, "I don't think there should be a federal law."
Source: Mark Pazniokas in The Connecticut Mirror
Mar 19, 2010
Maggie Hassan:
Women earn only 77 cents on the dollar compared to men
We must renew our commitment to a fundamental principle: an equal day's work deserves an equal day's pay. Well over half of the women working in today's economy are either the primary or co-breadwinners in their families.
And yet, women in New Hampshire, who are working full-time jobs, earn only 77 cents on the dollar compared to men. Nationally, studies have found that a pay gap exists between men and women in nearly every occupation.
Senator Larsen has introduced legislation that will improve the financial security of working families by helping all of our workers access appropriate resources to help them earn a fair and equal paycheck, without fear of retaliation.
I ask the legislature to strengthen our economy and our middle class by passing the Paycheck Fairness Act.
Source: 2014 State of the State address to Connecticut legislature
Feb 6, 2014
Matthew Corey:
Supports same-sex marriage
Q: Do you support same-sex marriage?
A: Yes. I support the Constitution. I believe its a States issue. I support equality under the law.
Source: Vote-Smart Connecticut Senate 2016 Political Courage Test
Nov 1, 2016
Prasad Srinivasan:
Prohibit "conversion therapy" of gay youth
Legislative Summary: HB 6695: Protection of youth from conversion therapy. Prohibiting any licensed professional from engaging in conversion therapy with a person under the age of 18 in the state."Conversion therapy" means any practice
administered to a person under 18 years of age that seeks to change the person's sexual orientation or gender identity, including any effort to change gender expression or to eliminate or reduce sexual or romantic attraction or feelings toward persons
of the same gender. "Conversion therapy" does not include counseling intended to:
- Assist a person undergoing gender transition,
- Provide acceptance, support and understanding to the person, or
- Facilitate the person's social support or
identity development, including addressing unlawful conduct or unsafe sexual practices.
Legislative Outcome: Passed Senate 36-0-0 on 3/31; passed House 141-8-2 on 5/2; Rep. Srinivasan voted YES; Gov Malloy signed 5/15/2017
Source: Connecticut legislative voting records: HB 6695
May 2, 2017
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
Themis Klarides:
Prohibit "conversion therapy" of gay youth
Legislative Summary: HB 6695: Protection of youth from conversion therapy. Prohibiting any licensed professional from engaging in conversion therapy with a person under the age of 18 in the state."Conversion therapy" means any
practice administered to a person that seeks to change the person's sexual orientation or gender identity, including any effort to change gender expression or to eliminate or reduce sexual or romantic attraction or feelings toward persons of the same
gender. "Conversion therapy" does not include counseling intended to:
- Assist a person undergoing gender transition,
- Provide acceptance, support and understanding to the person, or
- Facilitate the person's social support or identity development,
including addressing unlawful conduct or unsafe sexual practices.
Legislative Outcome: Passed Senate 36-0-0 on 3/31; passed House 141-8-2 on 5/2; Rep. Klarides co-sponsored & voted YES; Gov Hickenlooper signed it 6/10/2016
Source: Connecticut legislative voting records: HB 6695
May 2, 2016
Themis Klarides:
NO on including gender identity in anti-discrimination law
Excerpts from legislation: [Current anti-discrimination law prohibits]:- Discrimination on the basis of sex
- Discrimination on the basis of religious creed
- Discrimination on the basis of learning disability or mental disability
- [Add to that list the following]:
- Discrimination on the basis of gender identity or expression [which] means a person's gender-related identity, appearance or behavior, whether or not that is different from that traditionally associated with the
person's physiology or assigned sex at birth, which gender-related identity can be shown by providing evidence including medical history; consistent and uniform assertion of the gender-related identity; or any other evidence that the gender-related
identity is sincerely held, part of a person's core identity & not being asserted for an improper purpose.ÿ
Legislative Outcome: Bill passed House, 77-62; Rep. Klarides voted NAY; signed by Governor.
Source: Connecticut State Legislature voting records HB6599
May 19, 2011
Themis Klarides:
2012: Urged GOP to support civil unions for same sex couples
At the Republican National Convention in 2012,
Klarides urged the GOP to consider endorsing civil unions for same-sex couples, a suggestion that won little support.
Source: Hartford Business Journal on 2022 Connecticut Senate race
Jan 31, 2022
Tom Foley:
Maintain gay marriage law, although personally against it
On social issues, Foley says he considers marriage to be between a man and a woman,
but he would do nothing to overturn Connecticut's gay marriage law.
Source: Connecticut Mirror on 2014 Connecticut Governor race
Dec 31, 2010
Ann-Marie Adams:
Racial injustice:Black student debt disproportionately worse
The problem is especially acute for black college graduates, who have been disproportionately hit by the student debt crisis. So as college costs continue to outpace inflation, many experts worry that blacks are more likely to be shut out of the future
middle class. The center reports that 69% of black students listed debt loads as a key reason for dropping out of college. For Hispanics, it's 71% and for whites it's 43%. Some civil rights organizations see this crisis as a racial justice issue.
Source: Ann-Marie Adams WaPo OpEd 2018 Connecticut Senate race
Nov 12, 2012
Page last updated: Feb 18, 2023