617-807-0949 |matt@barisonlaw.com

Discrimination

9 11, 2023

Statement re. House Speaker Mike Johnson

By |2025-09-26T03:00:34+00:00November 9, 2023|Discrimination|

I am proud to have drafted this statement for the Mass. LGBTQ Bar Association, and for the editing and votes of support by the Board!

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On October 25th, a little-known member of the U.S. House of Representatives was elected Speaker.  Rep. Mike Johnson (R-LA) has a decades-long embrace of extreme anti-LGBTQ initiatives which gives us cause for grave concern.

We have already seen how rights, believed to be secure, can be blithely rolled back.  Last year, abortion rights were gutted by a radical Supreme Court majority, aided and abetted by Justice Coney Barrett, against whom we previously issued a statement of disapproval.  Reactionary members of SCOTUS opined that other precedents, including [Read More…]

21 10, 2020

Statement re. Amy Coney Barrett

By |2025-09-26T03:00:36+00:00October 21, 2020|Constitutional Law, Court System, Discrimination, LGBT Rights, Same Sex Marriage|

I am proud to have drafted this statement for the Mass. LGBTQ Bar Association, and for the editing and votes of support by the Board!

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As members of the Board of Directors of the Massachusetts LGBTQ Bar Association, we write to voice our vehement opposition to the nomination and arbitrary confirmation process of Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court of the United States.

Since its founding in 1985, the Massachusetts LGBTQ Bar Association has worked to promote the advancement of the LGBTQ+ legal community throughout the state. Our organization does so in a variety of ways, including promoting the fair and just treatment of the LGBTQ+ community under law, collaborating with other affinity bar associations to advocate for underrepresented communities, [Read More…]

14 11, 2016

Ready to Fight for You

By |2020-11-01T17:37:58+00:00November 14, 2016|Discrimination, LGBT Rights, Race, Same Sex Marriage|

The election of Donald Trump has caused a great deal of concern amongst those who may be impacted by his policies. Fortunately, for those of us in Massachusetts, the Commonwealth has strong anti-discrimination laws that will remain in effect regardless of changes to Federal laws. If you are being harassed based on your minority status (race, age, sex, disability, national origin, sexual orientation) please don’t hesitate to contact me. Additionally, if you are in a same-sex partnership with a child, now is a good time to apply for a second parent adoption to secure your parental rights in less progressive states.

Contact me at: 617-807-0949 or matt@barisonlaw.com

18 9, 2014

Arbitration Clauses and Employment Discrimination

By |2020-11-01T17:38:15+00:00September 18, 2014|Arbitration, Discrimination|

Massachusetts has strong protections against employment discrimination. It is against the law for employers to discriminate against employees based on “race, color, religious creed, national origin, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation . . . genetic information or ancestry.” This language is taken from Massachusetts General Laws, chapter 151B, section 4, the Commonwealth’s main anti-discrimination law. All claims asserted under 151B must initially be filed with the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination (MCAD) for review.

While the 151B process appears straightforward, a wrinkle arose regarding “arbitration clauses” found in many employment agreements. Arbitration clauses usually state that any disputes arising from the employment relationship must be resolved through arbitration, which is a form of private dispute resolution, rather than through the courts or administrative [Read More…]

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