State Pride Commission Honors Haverhill Councilor, Organizer

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Two members of Haverhill’s LGBTQ+ community were honored Wednesday for their leadership and service to the community and state by the Massachusetts LGBTQ+ Legislative Caucus.

Thomas J. Sullivan, an at-large city councilor in Haverhill, and Emilio Viscio, vice chair of the Haverhill Pride Collective, were among 105 honorees from across the state to receive inaugural Commonwealth Pride Awards.

State Rep. Jack Patrick Lewis, who represents Ashland and Framingham, served as the master of ceremonies for the awards ceremony at the statehouse. Lewis said the awards were first envisioned two years ago. When the LGBTQ+ caucus put out the call for nominations from their statehouse colleagues earlier this year, Lewis and his office staff predicted they might receive as many as 35 nominations. Instead, he said 105 people from across the state were being honored.

“This tells us, even in these difficult times our community continues to come together. When there are those who would rather debate our existence rather than celebrate our contributions, LGBTQ+ continue to serve, create, teach, heal, organize, lead and love,” Lewis said.

In delivering her congratulations, Massachusetts Sen. President Karen E. Spilka said their contributions are inspirating and motivating for legislators.

“Your work lights our path forward. It invigorates us. It educates us and it give us the light moving forward,” she said.

Also speaking was Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll, who reminded the audience of several milestones in LGBTQ+ rights pioneered in the state including marriage equality and, more recently, a trust fund to ensure those transitioning have access to gender-affirming health care.

Each honoree received an official citation and their biographies were printed in a souvenir program. Sullivan was nominated by state Sens. Pavel M. Payano and Barry R. Finegold. In his nomination, Sullivan was lauded for his leadership as the first openly gay member of the Haverhill City Council, his work on numerous civic committees and nonprofits and for helping to organize Haverhill’s first Pride Parade in 2025. He is a member of the Haverhill Pride Collective’s Advisory Board.

Viscio was nominated by state Reps. Ryan M. Hamilton and Andy X. Vargas. A proud trans dad, Viscio was honored for his leadership and service as vice president of the Haverhill Pride Collective and advocacy on behalf of the LGBTQ+ community with such organizations as Planned Parenthood and the Harvard Medical School.

The new awards are part of the state’s celebration of Pride Month. Those honored represented all walks of society from advocates and public servants to authors, filmmakers, historians, entrepreneurs and religious leaders who have had an impact on the LGBTQ+ community.