Cambridge honors Simmons, women in politics

Cambridge Mayor E. Denise Simmons officially took the oath of office in January, but in honor of National Women's History Month the People's Republic decided to have a do-over March 26. That night a standing-room-only crowd packed the city council chamber for a ceremonial swearing in of the nation's first black lesbian mayor.

Simmons, who was sworn in this time by her daughter, Jada Simmons, said that she chose to hold her ceremonial inauguration on March 26 because it was the 82nd birthday of her late mother. She described how her mother moved from Georgia to Alabama to study at Tuskegee, but after she graduated and moved to Massachusetts the only initial employment she found was work as a maid. Simmons said her mother would have been moved to see her daughter sworn in as mayor.

"I stand here very proudly in her honor," said Simmons.

Simmons thanked a long list of colleagues and supporters, and gave special attention to her family: her daughters, her grandchildren, and her partner Matty Hayes, whose name Simmons rarely mentions publicly. The crowd gave particularly loud applause when she introduced Hayes.

The Rev. Irene Monroe, a friend of Simmons' and a columnist for the New England Blade, praised Simmons for her "quiet dignity" and her "tenacity" in working on behalf of the people of Cambridge.

"Denise is not just a public servant, but she's one of our moral leaders," said Monroe.

Simmons was joined at the ceremony by a delegation of past and present female mayors, city councilors, and school committee members, as well as by Boston's Sen. Dianne Wilkerson.

Wilkerson, who received a standing ovation upon taking the podium, talked about the impact that successful black and female elected officials have had on children growing up today. She said her grandchildren are growing up at a time when Cambridge has a black female mayor, Massachusetts has a black governor, the United States House of Representatives has a female Speaker, and the two remaining Democratic presidential candidates are a woman and a black man.

"What an incredibly different view they must have of the world," said Wilkerson, adding that it was important to help them maintain that view.

Before introducing Simmons, Wilkerson said that she has had the opportunity to publicly introduce prominent black public officials like Gov. Deval Patrick and former Surgeon General David Satcher at speaking events. During those introductions she said she has felt so proud that, "sometimes all you can say is, mm, mm, mm." She then called Simmons to the podium and said, "And to that I say, mm, mm, mm."

There was little mention of Simmons' sexual orientation during the ceremony, in contrast to the discussion by many speakers about the boundaries she and her predecessors broke down regarding gender and race. But Simmons herself made sure to acknowledge that her election as mayor by her fellow city councilors was a milestone for the LGBT community. At the close of the ceremony she referenced the quote by the black educator and academic Anna Julia Cooper, "Only the black woman can say 'when and where I enter ... then and there the whole . . . race enters with me.'" In describing the various communities who she represents with her swearing in as mayor, Simmons said, "To my GLBT community, I say, we have entered."