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bostondotcom OP t1_j3mge38 wrote

From reporter Yvonne Abraham:

As newly inaugurated Governor Maura Healey formally introduces herself and her plans to the Commonwealth, there’s one more thing she is now delighted to share.

She has a partner.

For almost two years, Healey has been in a relationship with Joanna Lydgate, an attorney and her former deputy in the attorney general’s office, who now heads a Washington nonprofit trying to safeguard our endangered democracy.

Until now, Healey has been quite circumspect when it comes to this part of her personal life. But being governor requires her to share more of herself than she did as attorney general, she said. More importantly, the women and their families are finally ready for the couple to step into view.

“I feel really happy today, being able to tell this story,” Healey said Friday evening, holding hands with Lydgate on a couch in the governor’s rented North Cambridge apartment. Healey made an unannounced move to the duplex, a converted bakery in a neighborhood of triple-deckers, just before the election.

“This is a person I love very much and I have great respect and admiration for,” the governor said.

Read more: https://www.boston.com/news/the-boston-globe/2023/01/09/maura-healey-partner-joanna-lydgate/

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Illustrious-Nose3100 t1_j3mt3bx wrote

As much as I’d love to say that sexuality shouldn’t really matter - like you should be no more interested than if I said “I prefer to wear purple socks” - representation truly matters.

It might sound silly but I didn’t realize I could achieve great things until I saw someone who identifies the same way that I do, do it first. To me, they were my superhero and it gave me the confidence to reach for the stars. It was a big realization for me at the time.

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PuritanSettler1620 t1_j3njj7t wrote

I think it is improper to have a governor who cohabitates with someone who is not their spouse. For the dignity of the office I think they ought to get married.

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Ok_Translator_7026 t1_j3noeok wrote

Replying to Illustrious-Nose3100 (#1,317,360)

My daughter is very young and openly gay , we relocated from NW Georgia and the political hell hole that area is. Watching women that are like her accomplish things and hold office and be openly accepted has been great for her . Sometimes people in an area that doesn’t have the same social stigma and bigotry as the one we were in tend to forget how nice it actually is.

We now see Pride flags flying on front of homes instead of a barrage of confederate battle flags. No one here that we have encountered bats an eye at her being openly gay. Back in Georgia we were told that they would pray for her , that they love her but hate her sinful life. Even told it was a phase and we should not let her act that way. After years of arguments and me coming close to catching a charge for putting hands on someone, we took their advice. If you don’t like it leave..so we left.

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johnmh71 t1_j3nq787 wrote

And they began their relationship after she left the AG's office.

Riiiight.....

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Feisty-Donkey t1_j3p24bg wrote

That’s such a lovely article. They all sound like very mature, healthy people who make good decisions. That’s what I want in leaders.

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Feisty-Donkey t1_j3p2ap3 wrote

Replying to geminimad4 (#1,319,863)

It’s someone pretending to be an actual Puritan Settler :) I actually find it kind of endearing that they managed to continue the schtick without making it homophobic which would have been more on brand.

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ReporterOther2179 t1_j3p8b53 wrote

Politically the Governor wants to get out ahead of the ‘Governor Homewrecker’ headlines, as the Lydgate divorce is getting into the public record stage. As per the article it is happy faces all around so that’s good.

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TheToneKing t1_j3pkx3g wrote

Great story! I wish them all continued success and happiness, including Laura’s family!

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