Senate President Therese Murray appointed State Sen. Stan Rosenberg to Senate Majority Leader. The appointment makes Rosenberg the highest ranking out LGBT elected official in the Massachusetts state legislature.

“We congratulate State Sen. Stan Rosenberg on this honor.” MassEquality Executive Director Kara Suffredini said in a statement. “Senate Majority Leader is a pivotal and powerful position in the Massachusetts legislature. Sen. Rosenberg has a long history of supporting LGBTQ issues and we expect that he will continue to do the same in his leadership position. We also commend Sen. Pres. Therese Murray for appointing Rosenberg to be Senate Majority Leader.”

Rosenberg came out as a gay man publically in July of 2009 in a  column he wrote for the Greenfield Recorder. Rosenberg represents communities in Franklin County.

"As a foster child who grew up as ward of the state, as a gay man, as a Jew, I understand what it's like to be as 'the other.' I rarely discuss these facets of my character because I don't practice identity politics,” he stated in the column.