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October
1, Edition
Rhode
Islanders can now marry in MA, but...
"If
we don’t make an immediate turnaround, we will lose on November
9"
-
Marc Solomon
Director, MassEquality
Hi
friends,
I
am taking the quote above to heart and sending the letter that you
see to the left in blue to my legislators. Please feel free to
copy/paste to send to your politicians as well...
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Representative Ayers,
The 2006 primary is over and
once again, every legislator who has publicly taken a stand in support marriage equality is secure, while the minority of anti-equality politicians has lost three more of its most outspoken proponents. One of which, had outright lost to her pro-equality challenger.
Still, national anti-gay organizations continue to influence the effort to write discrimination into the MA Constitution. Some of these groups will be here in MA, on October 15th, to telethon across the country for more funding to promote the current citizen’s petition. As you know, it was national organizations that funded the deceptive signature gathering campaign.
When we last met in the State House, we seemed to be in agreement that our constitution should not be amended in this way. Yet, even today I worry that you may vote to allow the proposed amendment to move forward.
I need your support. In return, you will have mine, on call whenever needed. I have a lot that I can offer your campaign including web and direct mail design expertise and an extensive list of additional contacts in your district. Please let me know what else it will take to gain your support on November 9th. I look forward to working with you!
Sincerely,
Jerry Ringuette.
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It
is official: our opposition is bombarding legislators like never
before, while our community is doing next to nothing!
This
is a terrible situation that we are in. I am stepping up my
efforts to re-contact my legislators to ask for their support on
November 9th, when the citizen's petition to take away marriage
protections is again voted on by the MA Legislature. I plan to
contact them AGAIN 30 days later. PLEASE, PLEASE do the
SAME.
I
know that many of you/us have in fact been busy campaigning for
pro-equality candidates/incumbents but in the meantime, no one on
our side of the issue is maintaining communications with all those
politicians that will vote on November 9th.
Marc
Solomon is preparing a communication to escalate our current
situation.
Marc says, "Astonishingly, our side is dangerously complacent. Attendance at our events is down across the state.
While
20 or 30 supporters came to local meetings a year ago, only the same five or six show up now. Half of our past
donors have contributed nothing this year. And many of our advocates don’t even know there is a vote.
Meanwhile, the Right has become incredibly organized and energized to defeat us:
• Family Research Council president Tony Perkins is hosting a live broadcast from Tremont Street in Boston
to 80 million people nationwide, mobilizing the Right to overturn marriage equality in Massachusetts;
local pastors heavily involved
• Legislators are now receiving more postcards from the other side than from ours
• The Right is ambushing legislators, inviting them to one-on-one meetings, then surprising them with
over 100 angry supporters
• One pro-equality legislator was protested while volunteering at a food bank. Another found a
picket line outside his restaurant
We
did receive some good news in that RI couples have now won the
opportunity to marry in MA, but unfortunately the offer may only be
valid for a short time, unless we can get our friends together to
get more active and help us to keep the marriage protections that
are slipping away from us.
Please
use the elections data on the right as reference when completing
these 5 actions:
Supporting "equality" legislators' efforts for November elections:
Many
of the incumbents listed on the right have put their jobs on the line for us.
These
heroes need our help and WE
NEED them,
as well as those new candidates running to either replace
retiring supporter or trying to unseat our those who disagree
with our right to legal protections.
You
can find out what district you are in by going to wheredoivotema.com
If
you do not have any pro-equality races in your town, look to nearby towns where you can lend
support.
Continued
Donations
As
time passes, funds deplete for many of our supportive organizations.
Please donate $ on a regular basis.
We
would not have the protections that we currently have if it were
not for the efforts of Gay
and Lesbian Advocates and Defenders (GLAD).
We
would have lost these protections through recent proposed
constitutional amendments if it were not for the efforts or MassEquality,
the Religious
Coalition for the Freedom to Marry (RCFM) and The
Human Righs Campaign (HRC).
Don't
have the cash right now?... TIME is just as important as
money, these same organizations are in dire need of volunteers.
Public
Relations/Education
Letters
to the Editor of local newspapers are in CRITICAL need as
out opposition is currently launching a major assault against
legislators that support us, using false or twisted data in
order to sway the general public.
Wary
of listing your name locally?... then write in to other areas The
Attleboro, MA area is in serious need of our help as well as
the Boston
South Shore.
Note: Letters from married gay couples are important but
those from straight and single allies make a HUGE impact.
Contacting
MA legislators regularly
Everyone
has both a state senator and a representative, each with a
crucial vote for our protection.
Regular communications via hand-written letter of quick phone
calls are crucial in the constant battle for
equality.
Many legislators take counts of how many people contact their
offices on either side of a debate.
Volunteering
Our
progress in this fight does not occur
automatically. There has been
a disturbing trend of complacency when it comes to the
fight for our protections.
CLICK
HERE FOR REGULARLY SCHEDULED ACTIONS AND VOLUNTEER OPPORUNITIES
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| Editorial
Watch: |
The
table below will track all negative editorial
letters in need of response. We should
try to gain 2 editorials in our favor for
every 1 against.
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Local
Media
Write
to the media
closest to you
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Recent
Opposition
in
need of your Response
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Recent
Support
of
Equality
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State-Wide
& Boston
Boston
Globe:
Send
Editorial
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Result hardly a referendum on gay marriage
SJC treads carefully
(both
opinions)
Lessons to take from rulings on gay marriage
(both
opinions)
Nays, yeas over a gay-marriage vote
(both
opinions)
Considering the ex-gay movement
(both
opinions)
Clash over gay marriage
He won't be intimidated by website
A
civil debate on gay marriage - The
Boston Globe
Make room for 'bias' in adoption
Same-sex rights and bedtime rites
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NEW:
Gay marriage was indeed put to vote
Much is lost along with Pluto
Backward logic in the courts
SJC treads carefully
(both
opinions)
Some marriages she'd like to put to a vote
Lessons to take from rulings on gay marriage
(both
opinions)
GLOBE EDITORIAL: Vote the ban down
Nays, yeas over a gay-marriage vote
(both
opinions)
Considering the ex-gay movement
(both opinions)
Clash over gay marriage
Gay-marriage foe goes public
Gay marriage, so what?
Lexington and discord
Re: the bedroom, it's none of your concern
Citizenship policies and same-sex partners
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State-Wide
& Boston
The
Boston Herald:
Send
Editorial
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Gay-marriage ban restricts liberty
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South
Shore MA
The
Patriot Ledger:
Send
Editorial
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READER'S VIEW: Delaying gay marriage vote was a dereliction
READER'S VIEW: Civil unions fair way to deal with marriage issue
READERS’ OPINIONS: The right to vote and the right to marry
(1 for us 2 against)
Allow
citizens to vote on marriage amendment
Let
the people vote on gay marriage
Rev. Swanson’s courage
Contact
lawmakers on marriage proposal
Quincy church banner an ‘in-your-face’ disgrace
Church
banner insulting
Let the people vote on marriage amendment
Pro-gay
marriage crowd shows its hypocrisy
Another
attack on the Catholic Church
READER’S VIEW: Catholic Charities
READER'S VIEW: Gay rights winning at expense of children’s rights
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NEW:
READER'S
RESPONSE TO "Delaying gay marriage vote was a
dereliction"
(THANKS
JIM!)
NEW:
READERS’ OPINIONS:
Committed to fight for equal marriage rights
READERS’ OPINIONS: The right to vote and the right to marry
(both
opinions)
Rights of minorities
(THANKS JOE!)
Same-sex marriage a civil, not religious, issue
What
it means to be married, a mom and gay
We
needs to defend, not amend the
constitution
Civil
marriage is a legal matter, not a
sacred one
Preserve
same-sex marriage in state (Thanks
Jim! )
(I got a word in too!)
Gauging the ability of parents, gay or otherwise
(Thanks Laurie!)
Church banner
Anti-gay forces trying to desecrate our Constitution
Religion in America
Catholic
hierarchy to blame in adoption issue
Civil
rights have grown since John Adams’
time (Thanks ED!)
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Brockton/Taunton
Area
The
Enterprise:
Send
Editorial
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Plymouth
Area
Old
Colonial Memorial:
Send
an Editorial
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Attleboro
Area
The
Sun Chronicle:
Send
an Editorial
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THIS
NEEDS A RESPONSE!:
NEW:
LETTER:
What human rights are involved in marriage?
THIS
NEEDS A RESPONSE!:
NEW:
LETTER:
Under this logic, oust senators, too
THIS
NEEDS A RESPONSE!:
NEW:
LETTER: Constitution puts people at top of the pyramid
LETTER: Same-sex marriage issue upstaged by 100 cowards
LETTER: Please enlighten me on why gay marriage is legal
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Letter: Praises heroes for stand against discrimination
LETTER: Happiness, oil prices and the war in Iraq
LETTER: Webster's, constitution have already done job
LETTER: Exclude no one from wonderful blessing
LETTER: Stand up to opponents of gay marriage rights (Thanks
JOE!)
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Fall
River Area
The
Herald News:
Send
an Editorial
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Taunton
Area
Taunton
Gazette:
Send
an Editorial
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Carver
Area MA
Carver
Reporter
Marion,
Mattapoisett, Rochester, Areas
The
Sentinel
Wareham
Area
Wareham
Courier
Send
Editorials for above media to Editor:
Tamson Burgess
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Duxbury,
Halifax, Marshfield, and Pembroke
Reporters
Send
to Editor Scott Smith
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Kingston
Reporter
Send
to Editor: Charles Mathewson
Kingston Area MA |
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PRO-EQUALITY
INCUMBENTS & CANDIDATES
(in the red boxes below)
NEED YOUR SUPPORT!
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You
can find out what district you are in by going to
wheredoivotema.com
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Deval Patrick
for governor.
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State Senate
candidates
(i) -- candidate is an incumbent.
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D- Stephen
Lynch
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R- Robert
Hedlund (i)
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You
can find out what district you are in by going to
wheredoivotema.com
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Candidates for State Representative
(i) -- candidate is an incumbent.
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D-
Cheryl Rivera
(i)
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R-
George Vazquez
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D-
Margaret Ishihara
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R-
Susan Gifford (i)
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D-
Geraldo Alicea
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R-
David Singer
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You
can find out what district you are in by going to
wheredoivotema.com
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9/23/2006:
PRIMARY SUCCESS IS JUST THE BEGINNING!
9/16/2006:
PLEASE MAKE SURE YOU VOTE THIS TUESDAY!
9/9/2006:
What have you done lately to protect marriage
equality... Its not too late to get going.
9/2/2006:
Do you know who is running/challenging for
office in your district?.. many of you could be surprised.?...
8/27/2006:
What equality efforts are going on near you?.. Don't know?...
8/20/2006:
Back from vacation and gotta jump right in
working to gain new legislative support..
8/5/2006:
TIME TO MULTI-TASK: We need to try to convince legislators to kill the marriage petition AND we need to be working to gain & RETAIN support in November elections.
7/29/2006:
OUR STATE HOUSE SUPPORTERS ARE HIT HARD BY ANTI-GAY OUTRAGE.
7/23/2006:
Time to get planning/making our next moves to protect marriage equality.
7/16/2006:
Slight victory at State House means 4 more
months to gain the support we need.
7/8/2006:
HERE WE GO - I HOPE YOU HAVE SCHEDULED TIME OFF FROM WORK TO JOIN ME AT THE STATE HOUSE, THIS COMING
WEDNESDAY!
6/30/2006:
Now is the time to schedule your July 17th
vacation day to support civil rights at the MA State House!.
6/24/2006:
Friends may have swayed another vote in our
favor.
6/17/2006:
Macy's CEO apologizes as an anti-gay radio
campaign is launched in MA.
6/12/2006:
Anti-gay group wins PR success by stealing
positive attention away from Gay-Pride. - AND US Senate strikes down FEDERAL
marriage amendment.
6/3/2006:
Senate to vote on Federal "Marriage
Protection" amendment, promoted by Bush!.
5/27/2006:
Pro-Rights Complacency remains a serious
problem in MA.
5/21/2006:
Procedural options in our favor publicized.
5/13/2006:
2006 Con-con delayed to July 12.
5/6/2006:
SJC hears amendment case.
4/29/2006:
ANOTHER marriage ambush in Quincy.
4/22/2006:
May 10th nearly here, another forum scheduled
in Quincy.
4/14/2006:
Testimonies Heard at Legislative hearing.
4/7/2006:
Legislative hearing to address the petitioned marriage amendment has just been announced!.
3/30/2006:
STEP UP AND TAKE ACTION-TIME IS RUNNING OUT TO
DEFEAT THE MA MARRIAGE AMENDMENT.
3/26/2006:
Quincy, HRC Marriage Forum FIASCO.
3/18/2006:
Please take action at this critical time. 3
easy steps to make a BIG difference.
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3/9/2006:
NEW FORMAT TO JERRY's NEWSLETTER - FOCUS ON MA ATTACKS.
3/2/2006:
Criminal Probe Into Alleged Anti-Gay MA Amendment Forgeries
2/23/2006:
"Church of the Presidents"
wants to unfurl huge pro-gay marriage banner
2/16/2006:
New nationwide amendment to US
Constitution introduced
2/9/2006:
President Bush Grants Millions Of US
Tax Dollars To Anti-Gay, Religious Initiatives
2/2/2006:
Heroic, Coretta Scott King dies
1/27/2006:
MassEquality uncovers over 2000 cases
of petition fraud
(including the names a a prominent civil rights lawyer and local NBC
Sportscaster)
1/20/2006:
2006 Election Preview: New England focuses on gay marriage.
1/12/2006:
MA Marriage Opponents Propose
Limited Partner Benefits In Order To Strengthen Marriage Ban.
1/5/2006:
GLAD Files Suit Asserting MA Anti-Marriage Ballot Question Is Unconstitutional.
12/29/2005:
Bitter Battle Predicted Overt Mass. Anti-Gay Amendment.
12/22/2005:
HELP IDENTIFY
FRAUDULENT
SIGNATURES.
12/15/2005:
ROLLBACK OF MARRIAGE RIGHTS
IS NOW POSSIBLE IN MA.
12/1/2005:
South Africa Legalizes Gay Marriage & Canada's Government Toppled.
11/17/2005:
As Our biggest MA Democrat
Opponent Steps Down, The Republican Party Steps Up Attack..
11/10/2005:
Mixed Elections Results are
encouraging
11/3/2005:
Mass. Moves To Halt Fraud In
Anti-Gay Measure!
10/19/2005:
Supporters, foes of gay
marriage in MA trade dirty tricks charges!
10/14/2005:
Petition gatherers &
clergy gather 25,000 signatures in just one weekend!!
10/7/2005:
Petition gatherers &
clergy gather 25,000 signatures in just one weekend!!
9/29/2005:
Bishops of MA push their
congregations to sign the Citizen's Petition to roll-back
civil rights!
9/23/2005:
MA
BIGOTED PETITION BEGINS!
9/15/2005:
WE WON! MA Marriage Amendment
DEFEATED!
9/8/2005:
A Week of hope then DEVASTATION
9/1/2005:
Mass GOP Gov. Romney Pressures Dem. AG
To Certify Anti-Gay Petition Driven
8/25/2005:
JERRY'S 1st
YEAR ANNIVERSARY & MA plans second vote on marriage ban
8/19/2005:
MA State Rep
Changes vote on Marriage Amendment to "NO"
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8/11/2005:
U.S. poll:
Support grows for gay marriage
8/4/2005:
HELP! Equality
Is Under Major Attack!
7/28/2005:
TIME TO START
GETTING ACTIVE AGAIN!
7/21/2005:
CANADA MAKES IT
OFFICIAL!
7/14/2005:
CA STATE SENATE REVIVES MARRIAGE BILL!
7/7/2005:
Oregon Senate Passes Civil Union Bill!
6/30/2005:
Spain and Canada both Legalize same-sex
marriage!
6/23/2005:
California gay marriage bill may return
soon
6/16/2005:
Romney to Back a New More Extreme Plan
to Ban Gay Marriage
6/9/2005:
Civil Unions Bill Heads to Senate
6/2/2005:
California Bill to Legalize Gay
Marriage Dies
5/26/2005:
SJC Justice Marshal defends courts
5/19/2005:
1 FULL YEAR OF SAME-SEX MARRIAGE
& NO APOCALYPSE!
5/12/2005:
John Kerry speaks out against equality!
5/5/2005:
ANOTHER COURT CHALLENGE AGAINST MA
MARRIAGE.
4/28/2005:
CA Gay Marriage Bill Clears One Hurdle.
4/21/2005:
CT Signs Civil Unions into Law.
4/14/2005:
3,000 MARRIAGES TAKEN AWAY.
4/7/2005:
KS state votes for total
discrimination.
3/31/2005:
Maine House passes gay rights bill.
3/24/2005:
New
national Marriage amendment returns to U.S. House.
3/17/2005:
California judge rejects same-sex
marriage law.
3/10/2005:
Joe Solmonese Named Human Rights
Campaign President.
3/3/2005:
MA Gov. Romney Attacks Gay Families,
Angers Parents.
2/24/2005:
The Pope calls gay marriage 'evil'.
2/17/2005:
MA
to delay 2005 gay marriage vote.
2/10/2005:
Three
more states finalize amendments
2/3/2005:
"I
support a constitutional amendment to protect the institution of
marriage."- George W Bush
1/27/2005:
FEDERAL
MARRIAGE AMENDMENT PROPOSAL IS BACK
1/20/2005:
White
House Again Backs Amendment on Marriage
1/13/2005:
Gay
Marriage Tops Vatican’s 2005 Agenda
1/6/2005:
2005
kicks off civil rights granted & refused
12/23/2004:
"equal"
rights in CA begins January 1st
12/16/2004: Marriage
reversal case begins in OR
12/9/2004:
Canada & New
Zealand grant marriage & union rights
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12/2/2004: Supreme
Court Declines Ma Gay Marriage Case
11/26/2004: ACLU
Drops Marriage Case
11/18/2004: SS
Marriage Ruling 1yr Later
11/11/2004:
No
marriage Backlash in Ma
11/4/2004: Dealing
with the bad news!
10/28/2004:
Last
chance to spread the word...VOTE!
10/21/2004: Ohio's
anti-gay "Issue 1" campaign gets ugly.
10//142004: La.
marriage ban goes to state high court.
10//72004: LA
Amendment is THROWN OUT.
9/30/2004: BUB-BYE
Bigoted MA House Speaker.
9/23/2004: L.A.
VOTES TOTAL DISCRIMINATION
9/16/2004: Primary
elections victories for pro- equality candidates, but not for Jerry's.
9/9/2004: House
is back in session, to debate marriage again!
9/2/2004: Tell
Bush "YOU'RE FIRED"
8/26/2004: JERRY
IS MARRIED!!!
8/19/2004:
MA Supreme Court Judge rules in favor
of discriminatory law!
8/12/2004: California High Court
Voids Same-Sex Marriages!
8/05/2004: ANOTHER MAJOR SETBACK
& ANOTHER SMALL WIN.
7/29/2004: MAJOR SETBACK!
Discriminatory Marriage Protection Act Passed by a Vote of 233 to 194
7/21/2004: GOP HAS MOVED THE
MARRIAGE DEBATE TO THE HOUSE AND EXPECTS TO WIN
7/15/2004: The US SENATE SHOOTS
DOWN THE FEDERAL MARRIAGE AMENDMENT! But,..
7/08/2004: Court Date Set In Mass.
Out-Of-State Weddings Case
6/30/2004: Federal appeals court
denies attempt to block same-sex weddings
6/24/2004: Romney urges federal ban
on gay-marriage 'experiment'
6/17/2004: Gay marriage opponents
gear up for fall.
6/9/2004: Tell Mitt Romney To Stop
His Anti-Gay Crusade.
5/27/2004: Governor Romney is BOOed
at Suffolk Commencement Ceremony!
5/20/2004: WE
CAN MARRY!!!
5/13/2004: Judge
refuses to stop gay marriages!!!
5/7/2004: Boston
may ignore governor's directive on gay marriage
4/30/2004: Governor
Aims to Limit Marriage to Mass. Residents, GLAD Offers Perspective
4/22/2004: I'm
featured in today's paper :-) HORRIBLE PICTURE!
4/13/2004: LETTER
FROM QUINCY'S HERO: REP RONALD MARIANO
4/8/2004: Quincy's
Rep Mariano Changes Vote to Support Civil Rights!
4/1/2004: CIVIL
RIGHTS SETBACK IN MA
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