Councilor candidate's signature appears on 2005 anti-marriage equality petition

John O'Toole, a candidate for District 3 City Councilor, had some explaining to do after anonymous fliers posted along the Boston Pride route called his support of LGBT rights into question. The former Cedar Grove Civic Association president called his signature -- appearing on a 2005 petition that, had it been successful, would have put Massachusetts' marriage equality law to a vote -- a "mistake."

"I signed it," O'Toole told The Dorchester Reporter. "It was a mistake. I should've taken a closer look at it."

The fliers referred to KnowThyNeighbor.org, a website that published a full list of the petition's signatories. Lang said KTN is not responsible for posting the fliers.

"LGBT people have a lot of soul searching to do and hopefully so do the candidates," Tom Lang, director of KnowThyNeighbor.org, posted on the blog website. "One thing though, it seems that we have not forgotten about the wounds that were inflicted upon us in our continued fight for equality."

O'Toole emphasized to the Reporter his 2007 support of efforts to save Massachusetts' law legalizing same-sex marriage. The candidate marched in this year's Boston Pride parade with outgoing Dorchester City Councilor and longtime LGBT rights supporter Maureen Feeney. According to Lang, O'Toole also supports the Transgender Equal Rights Bill.

Richard O'Mara, a member of DotOUT, a Dorchester LGBT civic organization, told the Reporter he is satisfied with O'Toole's apology.

"There are members of the gay community that won't accept that," O'Mara said. "There are members like myself that believe through honest civil dialogue, we can change people's opinions and have some understanding, and I'm willing to give John the benefit of the doubt now."

Lang echoed O'Mara's sentiments, telling the Reporter, "I think he does have a history of supporting the gay community. ...This is one of these situations where he needs to get out there and say something publicly, really get out there."

KnowThyNeighbor.org published a list of the 2005 petition's signatories, which includes former District Attorney hopeful Michael Cahillane and former auditor hopeful Mary Z. Connaughton. Neither were elected following release of the petition's signatories.