East Somerville’s Tracey Pratt celebrated at Black Excellence Event
Community Content
East Somerville resident Tracey Pratt was recently honored at the 2021 Black Excellence on the Hill event, which is hosted annually by the Massachusetts Black & Latino Legislative Caucus (MBLLC) to commemorate Black community leaders and trailblazers who are making a difference in cities and towns across the Commonwealth.
Pratt was nominated for this recognition by Rep. Mike Connolly, D-26th Middlesex. This year, the event was held virtually with opening remarks from Rep. Chynah Tyler, D-7th Suffolk; House Speaker Ronald Mariano, D-3rd Norfolk; and Senate President Karen Spilka, D-2nd Middlesex and Norfolk. The keynote address was delivered by Sean Ellis, founder of the Exoneree Network whose life story of being falsely accused of murder was the subject of the acclaimed Netflix Documentary Trial 4.
Ryan Grim, the D.C. bureau chief for The Intercept, on Tuesday said the use of a homophobic slur by a member of the Cambridge Democratic City Committee who had also voted in favor of the party’s pro-LGBTQ resolution represents “the equivalent of putting a pride flag on your porch, but still propping up systems that perpetuate homophobia.”
During an interview on Hill.TV’s “Rising,” Grim explained that at a recent Massachusetts Democratic committee hearing, some members backed a resolution calling for the state’s Democratic Party Chair Gus Bickford to resign following his role in advancing an investigation into Holyoke, Mass., Mayor Alex Morse (D), who is gay, after rumors spread that he had inappropriate relationships with young people.
Roosevelt claimed âthe Jacques report found that there was no homophobic intent or action in the actions by Gus Bickford,â while Jacques instead said that she did not make findings either way on the “motivations” for any actions taken â a clarification helpfully located at the top of the report on the first page. Roosevelt also said, âMayor Morse responded and acknowledged there were no false allegations.â While Morse has acknowledged “concerns” and apologized for making anyone uncomfortable, he never made a statement on the nature of the allegations â since, in fact, no concrete allegations were made.
The Intercept asked Roosevelt what he made of the suggestion that while Goverman’s slur was the most explicit expression of bigotry at the meeting, the entire thrust of the opposition was touched with homophobia. Roosevelt pointed to the state party investigation which he claimed found no evidence of homophobic intent. Asked why so many people f