Gov. Baker (MA) tells LGBT Republican group 'We have miles to go,' for equality

[DonViejo]

JESSICA RINALDI/GLOBE STAFF/FILE PHOTO
In 2010, then Republican gubernatorial candidate Charlie Baker (right) joked with his brother, Alex, a gay man who was featured in a campaign video.

By Libby Berry GLOBE CORRESPONDENT OCTOBER 03, 2018

WASHINGTON – A moderate Republican voice at a time of deep political polarization, Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker joined the country’s largest conservative LGBT group on Tuesday to reflect on his personal connection to the LGBT community.

The speech at the Log Cabin Republicans annual “Spirit of Lincoln” dinner marked an unusual foray for Baker on the national Republican stage. But he was in friendly territory. Hundreds applauded his record on gay rights before he took the stage at the Mayflower Hotel.

In 2010, when Baker launched his first bid for governor, he chose Richard Tisei, a gay lawmaker, as his running mate.

“To this day, I feel guilty about the fact this guy won 13 elections in a row until he ran with me,” Baker joked of Tisei, the former long time state senator from Wakefield. “For the vast majority of the electorate, the fact that he was gay didn’t matter. The reason we didn’t win was because I wasn’t a very good candidate.”

Four years later, when he again ran for governor, Baker did a campaign video featuring a conversation with his brother recalling how he told Baker that he is gay. He touched on this moment again Tuesday, sharing details of attending his brother’s wedding shortly after Massachussetts courts legalized gay marriage in 2004.

“I remember being at the wedding, and the thing I thought about most, in addition to how happy my parents were, was how many opportunities have been missed,” Baker said.

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https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2018/10/02/baker-tells-lgbt-republican-group-have-miles-for-equality/L8LZlJS6J63bqPC9B2XiVI/story.html