Menino's Impact on Boston's LGBT Community

Former Boston Mayor Tom Menino is remembered for his activism and involvement in Boston's LGBT community

From the leader of Boston’s annual gay pride parade, to a trusted confidante as someone who shaped lesbian/gay/transgender policy, former Mayor Tom Menino was there from the beginning for the city’s gay community.

Menino passed away Thursday at the age of 71, less than a year after he was disgnosed with an advanced form of cancer.

Ben Kline from Boston’s Office of Gay and Lesbian Advocates and Defenders, or GLAD, says Menino shaped gay policy in a numbers of ways.

He said, “I don’t think that the LGBT community and people living with HIV could have had a more devoted, solid friend and support than we had in Mayor Menino.

Back in the 90’s Menino refused to march in Boston’s St. Patrick’s Day parade because gays weren’t allowed.

Menino also facilitated a needle exchange program to prevent HIV transmission, ensured domestic partner health benefits early on and was an early supporter of marriage equality.

He is also remembered as a mayor who made sure public schools had safe school programs and gay/straight alliances through increased education.

Kline said, “His policies and positions were really early on in the fight for LGBT rights and they were really all aimed at ensuring that LGBT people and people with HIV were not only welcome in the city of Boston, but could fully and equally participate in the life of the city.”

In the South End of Boston he is remembered as the people’s mayor.

Perhaps one of the most memorable situations for Kline dates back 13 years ago. He said Glad represented a woman named Belinda Dunn, a beloved and respected woman with HIV, an educator in the African-American community.

Kline said at the time her health insurance wouldn’t pay for her liver transplant because the company called it an experimental treatment.

Menino created a fund to get liver transplants for people with HIV, something Kline called “extraordinary.”

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