Message From the Mayor

CITY OF SOMERVILLE, MASSACHUSETTS 

JOSEPH A. CURTATONE 

MAYOR 

Somerville City Hall  • 93 Highland Avenue • Somerville, Massachusetts 02143 

(617) 625-6600, Ext. 2100 • TTY: (617) 666-0001 • Fax: (617) 625-3434 • www.somervillema.gov 

mayor@somervillema.gov 

May 14, 2013 

Open Letter to the Public: 

It has come to my attention that offensive, homophobic slurs have been publicly spoken about a 

Somerville elected official, and a friend of mine. In light of this information, let me renew my 

stance on this and any other derogatory remarks against human beings in ours and any other 

community: This kind of abusive behavior has no place in our city – or any other.  

Not only do I personally condemn all anti-gay slurs and insults, the City of Somerville has an 

ordinance on the books that proudly informs every resident and guest of our city that we stand in 

solidarity with all lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people as well as all residents of any 

gender, age, or ethnicity. I encourage everyone to take a moment to read it (below) and take it to 

heart.  

We often speak about the fact that we are a city that prides itself on its diversity and its 

inclusiveness, but fostering tolerance sometimes takes action. In our city, we passed an ordinance 

as a first step, and each day we hold true to it. In Somerville, everyone is welcome and equal. 

The language of that ordinance reads: 

It is hereby declared to be the public policy of the city, including its employees, 

agents and officials, to protect and promote the constitutional, civil and human 

rights of all people within the city. Further, the city asserts that:  

All people have certain inalienable rights, including the rights to life, liberty, 

property, the pursuit of happiness and equal justice under the laws of the United 

States, the commonwealth and the city.  

No person in our city shall have these rights constrained, reduced, ignored or 

violated; all people in our city shall be protected in the exercise of these human 

and civil rights.  

No person in our city shall be unlawfully discriminated against in matters of 

housing, employment, education, contracts, purchasing or public 

accommodations, on the basis of: age, ancestry, citizenship, color, disability, 

economic status, ethnicity, family/marital status, gender, military status, national 

origin, race, religion, sexual orientation or source of income.  

The human rights commission shall work toward mutual respect and 

understanding among all individuals and groups in the city through improving 

the quality of public discourse and eliminating unlawful discrimination.  

(Ord. No. 1993-1, 1-28-93)  

Every human being deserves the right to respect, dignity, and decency. Know that in 

Somerville, these kinds of slurs and behavior will not be tolerated, regardless of whether 

the victim holds a public position or not. It is a basic human right to be treated equally 

regardless of sexual orientation, race, cultural background or any other quality or 

characteristic, and in Somerville, we will continue to honor that right. 

Sincerely, 

Joseph A. Curtatone 

Mayor  

- - - - -

As the mother of an openly gay daughter I can only echo what the Mayor has stated in the above letter.