Case 1:16-cv-12034-PBS Document 25-2 Filed 12/07/16 Page 10 of 11

THECOMMONWEALTH OFMASSACHUSETTS
OFFICE OFTHEATTORNEY GENERAL
ON E AS H B U R T O N PL A C E
B O STON, MASSACHUSETTS 02108
(617) 7272200

MAURA HEALKY
ArroRNEYGENERAL

www.mass.gov/ago

November7,2016

BYEMAIL&FIRSTCLASSMAIL
StevenO'Ban,Esq.
AllianceDefendingFreedom
15100N,90thStreet
Scottsdale,Arizona85260
Re:

HorizonChristianFellowshipetal.v.JamieWilliamsonetal,
CivilActionNo.1612034(U.S.DistrictCourt,D. Mass.)

DearMr.O'Ban:
IamwritingtoinformyouthattheAttorney General'sOfficehasrevised itswebsiteto
removethecategoricalreferenceto"housesofworship"asanexampleofa"placeofpublic
accommodation"withinthemeaningofMass.Gen,Lawsc.272,92A&98. See
http://www.niass.gov/ago/consumerresources/vourrights/civilrights/TDublicaccomodation.html.
Assetforthinsection 92A,a"placeofpublicaccommodation"isdefinedas"any place,whether
licensedor unlicensed,whichisopentoandacceptsorsolicits thepatronageofthe general
public.. ." Whilereligiousfacilitiesmayqualifyasplacesofpublicaccommodationiftheyhost
apublic,secularfunction,anunqualifiedreferenceto"housesofworship"wasinconsistentwith
Donaldson v. Farrakhan, 436Mass.94(2002),andwehaveremovedthat reference.
InDonaldson, theMassachusettsSupremeJudicialCourtconsideredwhetherthepublic
accommodationlaw,M.G.L.c.272,92A&98,applied toareligiouslyaffiliatedeventthat
wasnotopentowomen. Theeventinquestionwasaspeakingeventpromoted,organized,and
fundedby amosque,andpresented byministerLouisFarrakhanatacityownedtheater,to
addressdrugs,crime,and violenceinthecommunity. 436Mass.at97100. TheCourtfound
thattheeventwasnota"public,secularfunction"ofthemosque. Id. at100. TheCourtalso
foundthatapplicationofthepublicaccommodationlawtorequire theadmissionofwomento
theevent"wouldbeindirectcontravention ofthereligiouspracticeofthe mosque"becauseit
wouldimpair the"expressionofreligiousviewpoints"ofthemosquewithrespecttothe
"separationofthesexes"andtheroleofmeninthecommunity. Id. at 10102. TheCourtthus
furtherheldthatthe"forcedinclusion ofwomenin themosque'sreligiousmen'smeetingby
applicationofthepublicaccommodationstatute"would"significantlyburden"themosque's
FirstAmendmentrightsofexpressionand association. Id.

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TheCourt'sdecisioninDonaldson continuesto provideimportantguidanceonthe

applicationofM.G.L.c.272,92A&98, Therecentamendmentstothestatute,adding
"genderidentity"tothecategoriesofimpermissiblebasesfordiscrimination,donotaffectthe
definitionof"publicaccommodation."
Yourlawsuitcausedus tofocusontheseissuesandtomakethisrevisiontoour website.
Thankyouforbringingtheissuetoourattention.
Pleasefeelfreetocontactmeifyou haveanyquestionsorwouldliketodiscussthis
further.

Verytrulyyours,

GenevieveC.Nadeau
Chief,CivilRightsDivision
(617)9632121
cc:

PhilipD.Moran,Esq.