Massachusetts leaders raise Pride flag and announce $3.5 million supplement for gender-affirming care trust

State leaders, advocates and performers gathered on the State House steps for the annual Pride flag-raising, where legislators and statewide officials reaffirmed Massachusetts’ commitment to LGBTQ+ rights and announced new state funding to bolster gender-affirming care.

Senator Julian Cyr told the crowd the legislature has already funded a gender-affirming care trust at $1,000,000 and said a recent compromise will add $3,500,000 through the senate’s share of a supplemental budget. "That trust is getting an additional $3,500,000 thanks to the senate funding this in our fair share of supplemental budget," Cyr said, and he added the house was expected to vote the same day with the senate to vote the following day.

The announcement was one of several high-profile remarks. Senate President Karen Spilka called Pride "an act of kindness" and said the legislature would continue to fight for civil rights and justice. "We will fight for justice. We will fight for civil rights," Spilka said, thanking caucus organizers and allies for sustaining the annual ceremony.

Governor Maura Healey framed the event as an extension of the state's long record on equality, saying Massachusetts remains "a freedom-loving state" and urging residents to protect access to health care, schools and economic opportunity. "We were just ranked number 1 on the equality index," Healey said, adding that the commonwealth would stand "resolute" in protecting civil liberties.

Attorney General Andrea Campbell said the attorney general’s office is actively litigating to protect health-care access and other rights, saying it was "up to 57 lawsuits" challenging federal actions and asserting the office would defend more than $3,000,000,000 in state investments from conditions that would restrict access to care. "Not on our watch," Campbell said, pledging legal action to protect transgender youth and reproductive health services.

Treasurer Deborah "Deb" Goldberg described long-standing involvement in LGBTQ+ advocacy and said the state pension fund holds roughly 12,000 companies, a point she raised in urging corporate accountability on equality and health coverage. "We are holding the 12,000 companies that our pension fund invest in accountable," Goldberg said.

The program also featured performances and community voices: the Boston Gay Men's Chorus performed, Amanda Shea offered a spoken-word piece connecting the flag to visibility and belonging, and Sam Montano urged attendees to support local nonprofits and mutual-aid efforts for people facing increased hostility and instability.

Organizers and officials framed the event as both celebration and political statement amid national debates over transgender health care and related policies. The most immediate concrete development announced at the event was the supplemental budget funding for the gender-affirming care trust; Cyr said votes were expected in the house and senate in the next two days.

The ceremony concluded with applause and thanks to performers and organizers. No formal votes or binding actions were taken at the flag-raising itself; the announced budget change will proceed through the legislature according to usual procedures.