Massachusetts bars discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation.

Signed by Gov. Michael Dukakis, the law prohibits discrimination in housing, employment, credit, and access to public businesses. Massachusetts becomes the second state in the nation (after Wisconsin in 1982) with such a law. The bill was first introduced in 1973, originally sponsored by Rep. Barney Frank (D-back and Sen. Lois Pines, and had was first passed in the House of Representatives in 1983.