Former state representative Nancy Hetherington of Bristol was recently honored for her sponsorship of the 2001 groundbreaking legislation that prohibited discrimination based on gender identity or expression in housing, credit and employment.

“Equality is a profoundly American idea. We know that most people support equality. It is our responsibility to support that sentiment – and more importantly – to shine a light on it,” said David N. Cicilline, the Foundation’s president and CEO. “There is no better way to put the progress we have made in perspective than to celebrate the work of early leaders like these.”

Hetherington was the first openly gay woman to serve in the General Assembly. In addition to co-sponsoring that 2001 law, the former representative from Cranston also sponsored legislation to legalize civil unions.

“The Foundation’s support of equality is an example of how we, as Americans, need to support all communities in these times,” said Hetherington.

Hetherington was honored along with her co-sponsor of the 2001 bill, Edith Ajello. More recently, Ajello, who still represents the East Side of Providence in the House, also sponsored bills that formalized wider state protections against discrimination in health care, that added gender identity to the state's hate crimes law and that banned “conversion therapy" on minors.

The award presentations were the highlight of the Foundation’s second annual Pride Month Reception, which brought together supporters of the state’s LGBTQ+ communities.