A gay and lesbian business group has withdrawn an invitation to Republican Gov. Charlie Baker, citing his decision to speak at a weekend event featuring top conservative leaders and a controversial Texas minister.
The National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce planned to honor Baker at a dinner in Washington, DC this month.
The group also said it backed off because of Baker's refusal to endorse a bill designed to protect transgender people in Massachusetts from discrimination in public places like malls and restaurants.
The Boston Globe reported that the decision to drop Baker came after Democratic Congressman Joe Kennedy asked that his name be removed from the list of honorees for the event, citing Baker's refusal to endorse the bill, which Kennedy supports.
Kennedy has since accepted the invitation again.