On today’s episode of Justice Matters co-host Diego Garcia Blum speaks with former Governor of Massachusetts Deval Patrick about his work as Governor fighting for LGBTQI+ rights, as well as the current state of those rights in the country.  

Patrick began his career as a staff attorney at the NAACP Legal Defense Fund, then went on to serve as Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights in the Clinton administration. From 2007 to 2015, he served as the governor of Massachusetts, the first Black person to serve in the role. During his two terms, Patrick focused on health care, public schools and public infrastructure, and launched initiatives stimulating clean energy and biotechnology, he also signed into law marriage equality rights in the State, as well as protections for transgender rights. He is currently a professor of practice and co-director of the Center for Public Leadership at the Harvard Kennedy School.

 In this episode’s conversation they discuss: protecting marriage equality from future rollbacks, how personal relationships inform his perseverance on these issues, this moment politically for LGBTQI+ rights, engaging voters, and his thoughts on coalition building.