Carl Sciortino
Massachusetts State Representative | 34th Middlesex District
Massachusetts Representative Carl Sciortino will be addressing the 2009 Affirmation Conference, as well as conducting a small group session. Carl is one of the significant members of the rising generation of gay political leaders in the United States.
Carl Sciortino is a member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives, representing Somerville and Medford in the Boston metropolitan area. After defeating an anti-marriage incumbent in 2004 at 26 years old, he is now one of the few out GLBT members of the legislature. Carl took a leadership role in defeating the anti-marriage constitutional amendment, and has filed transgender civil rights legislation for the first time in Massachusetts’ history.
Carl Sciortino celebrates his 2004 primary victory against an ardent foe of same-sex marriage
Rep. Sciortino is deeply committed to working for the families in his community, and has been a tireless advocate for issues of social and economic justice. He passed amendments to the state budget which resulted in increased funding for the Massachusetts Rental Voucher Program (MRVP) and Hepatitis-C prevention and treatment programs. Rep. Sciortino also helped pass and override the governor's veto on legislation which resulted in an increase to the minimum wage to $8.00/hour, the highest in the nation. He supported an amendment to the state's constitution which would make health care for all a constitutionally guaranteed right and he helped pass a landmark bill that makes affordable, quality insurance accessible to 95% to the state's 500,000 uninsured residents.
Carl is the Vice Chairman of the Joint Committee on Transportation, and serves on the House Committee on Way & Means and the Joint Committee on Health Care Finance. He has taken leadership roles in raising the minimum wage, improving finances for public transportation, passing Massachusetts’ landmark universal healthcare law, and pushing for improvements in education & testing policies.
Carl and Peter Ungar of the Foss Park Neighborhood Association discuss the condition of the park.
Prior to the legislature, Carl worked in the public health field, working on HIV/AIDS clinical research. He graduated with a degree in Biology from Tufts University and is Vice Chair of the Medford Democratic City Committee and a member of the Progressive Democrats of Somerville, along with many other local community organizations.
