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Rep. Armani seeks to amend Constitution to include women, nonbinary titles
BY LEIGH BLANDER
Representative Jenny Armini of Marblehead wants to amend the state Constitution to add “her” and “their” as options when using the Governor’s Excellency title and the Lieutenant Governor’s Honor title.
“History has blown by the Massachusetts Constitution. It is well past time to catch up,” said Armini, who testified for her bills before the Judiciary Committee on March 28.
“According to our foundational document, Governor Maura Healey is referred to as ‘His Excellency.’ Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll is referred to as ‘His Honor.’ This legislation would correct those anachronisms by beginning the process of amending the Constitution.”
Specifically, H.30 and H.31, would add “her” and “their” to the existing “his” pronoun preceding the two honorifics.
“Words matter,” said Armini, who is a former speechwriter, including chief speechwriter to thenActing Governor Jane
Environment
From P. A7 impression. But I eventually conquered my fear and gained the confidence to use a mower — and many other tools — with the expert guidance of the group leaders and members. Loppers, hedge trimmers and pitchforks? No problem. I still haven’t tackled a Pulaski ax, but maybe someday!
Swift. “Language is how we communicate our values, and it’s a tool by which citizens learn who and what is important.
Volunteering in the town’s green spaces is enjoyable for many reasons. It’s a way to get fresh air and exercise in beautiful locales, to socialize with a group of volunteers with diverse career backgrounds and interests, to meet community members out on the trails, to learn new skills and to discover a lot about plants and their care. I’ve also gained confidence as a woman that I can handle many of the tools that I previously found intimidating and dangerous.
Since I never know which nature preserve we will be visiting, or what new job we will be undertaking, each time I volunteer it’s new and exciting. I have discovered new trail entrances and visited green spaces in town that I used to just drive by, unaware of the treasures that were in my midst.
For example, though I’d been to the Village School countless times, I had never explored Robinson Farm, which lies directly behind. While we were clearing both litter and invasive bittersweet from Robinson Farm, I learned a great deal about the history of
LEGAL NOTICE
TOWN OF MARBLEHEAD CONSERVATION COMMISSION
Actions often follow accordingly. “The original exclusion of Her speaks to the mores of a different time in our nation’s the farm and the land.
Volunteering in the town’s green spaces is a way to get fresh air and exercise in beautiful locales and to socialize with a group of volunteers.
It might be surprising to hear that if you’re a history buff, this is also a great group for you. The team members are quite knowledgeable about the history of the open spaces in town and are very happy to share what they know. Just visit marbleheadconservancy.org and you’ll get a sense of what I mean. You’ll find a wealth of maps, information and history about the land and its usage, and much more.
Even though I can’t commit to trail work every week, I am greeted enthusiastically each time I can attend. Their motto is to come and work when you can, with no pressure. Being a busy mom with even busier kids, this flexibility has been very welcome.
I am humbled to volunteer with a group who has been dedicated to the green spaces in Marblehead for decades. I consider myself fortunate to learn from them and help preserve natural areas in town for the enjoyment of all. I encourage Marblehead adults young and old, men and women alike, to give it a try. We may not be Anna Pigeon in Yellowstone National Park, but we can certainly make a big contribution right here on our own preserved land.
The Marblehead Conservation Commission will hold a VIRTUAL (zoom) public hearing beginning at or after 7:00 PM on April 13, 2023 on an application filed by Scott Patrowicz, P.E., Patrowicz Land Development Engineering (applicant) on behalf of Daniel J. Riccio, Trustee of the Daniel J. Riccio Qualified Personal Residence Trust (owner) for the proposed house addition, site work/landscaping and stormwater management at 10 Coolidge Road (Map 47, Parcel 36) in an area subject to the Wetlands Protection Act and the Marblehead Wetlands Protection Bylaw This hearing will be held remotely in accordance with Governor Baker ’s March 12, 2020 Order Superseding Certain Provisions of the Open Meeting Law, G.L. c.30A, section 18 and the Governor ’s March 15, 2020 Order imposing strict limitation on the number of people that may gather in one place. Request to make an appointment to review plans and information by E-mailing: engineers @ marblehead. org For any questions, please call (781) 631-1529. Details on how to access the hearing remotely via the internet will be posted on the meeting agenda at least 48-hours prior to the hearing.
The link to the agenda is: https://www.marblehead.org/conservation-commission
Brian LeClair Chairman Marblehead Conservation Commission history. By including both Her and Their, we capture the progress made, and we ensure that all people are respected and reflected in our most important document,” explained Armini.
Explaining inclusion of “their” pronouns in her amendments, Armini called for lawmakers to look toward a future day when “someone unencumbered by gender, or gender assigned at birth, sits in the corner office.”
She referred to Rep. Sam Montano, another firstterm House member who uses both female and nonbinary pronouns, as one politician who is “full of promise.”
Firstterm Rep. Dawne Shand of Newburyport recalled, as a high school student in Alabama, her teacher saying that male pronouns in government documents were appropriately “encompassing” of all.
Shand disagreed, as did Rep. Mindy Domb, who spoke in favor of the Armini amendments and her own proposal (H 32) which would replace the word “he” with the phrase “the person” everywhere it appears in the document.
“‘He’ is not an inclusive term. ‘He’ is a gendered term,” said Domb.
Gov. Maura Healey told reporters that she hadn’t heard about the proposals.
“I think people know how to refer to me, they refer to me in a lot of different ways,” Healey said.
The governor also made light of the 18th century language.
“I guess Abigail didn’t have a hand in that,” said Healey, apparently referring to Abigail Adams, who famously implored her husband John to “remember the ladies” in his public policy work.
“Where was she? She wasn’t at home that day,” Healey quipped.
The Judiciary Committee has until April 26 to issue positive or negative reports on the various bills it heard Tuesday. Lawmakers then face a May 10 deadline to call up any of those proposals to feature on the Constitutional Convention calendar for this session.
The State House News Service contributed to this report.
