Jerry's email update on the fight for Equal Rights (October 21, 2004)
  

Time to focus on elections

Also...

Ohio's anti-gay "Issue 1" campaign gets ugly

Friends,

Wow, you really do notice when I don't send these out. Thanks to those who asked if I had missed them.  I'm actually just running late this week.

Now that Election Day is so close, you will start noticing a lot of election related links and stories.  This years election results will have direct impact on many years to come
.  It has been made known that George W Bush, if re-elected would seat new, far right wing supreme Court Justices with the primary focus on turning back the clock and reversing many civil liberties currently in place.  Please take the time to learn about the stance that your own local representatives have towards civil rights.  Please support our heroes in any way you can.    
 


Notable items this week:

Musgrave must go - a message from Governor Howard Dean for HRC members
 

Dear Jerry and Friends,

Marilyn Musgrave has made a living in Congress attacking gay Americans. For that, she’s earned a one-way ticket back to Colorado, and Stan Matsunaka needs your help right now to send her packing.

Musgrave uses her seat in Congress not to serve the people of Colorado’s 4th Congressional District, but rather to serve the Radical Right agenda of people like Jerry Falwell and James Dobson. And their primary target is you.

Musgrave ignores her own district and focuses single-mindedly on things like the Federal Marriage Amendment. In return, she is well rewarded by her followers. Just one recent letter attacking gay people to her followers across the country brought in more than $1 million for her campaign.

The good news is that Stan Matsunaka is poised to unseat Musgrave. In a recent poll, more than 52% held an unfavorable view of her, and Stan had closed to within 4 points. Stan can win, but he needs your help right now:

It’s been a long campaign season, and you’ve already given so generously. But with so much at stake and just two weeks remaining until the election we must press on. A donation of any size, $100, $50, even $25 can make an enormous difference for Stan. Please help him today, and together we can defeat the Radical Right’s most reliable and vocal advocate in Congress.

Thank you for all you have done this election season. And thank you for all that you will do during these last two weeks!

Sincerely,

Governor Howard Dean
Founder and Honorary Chair, Democracy for America
 


Gay Marriage Issue Fizzles In Massachusetts
Boston, Massachusetts: The November elections in Massachusetts were supposed to be Phase Two in the state's epic gay-rights battle, a time for political retribution and citizen retaliation for votes cast during this year's debate on a constitutional ban on same-sex marriage. 

But the divisive issue, which dominated Statehouse discourse after the state's high court legalized gay marriage in Massachusetts a year ago, is not playing a highly visible role in the legislative elections that could determine its fate. 

At stake is whether the Legislature will reaffirm its support for a constitutional amendment, given preliminary approval earlier this year, that would ban gay marriages while legalizing civil unions. Gay rights advocates need to gain at least five more supporters in the Legislature to prevent the measure from going to voters in November 2006. 

Full Story 

TAKE ACTION HERE

 
Please revisit my HRC, take action page. CHECK IN REGULARLY as HRC is always adding new action items.
I have met my goal for 100 actions, but strive for continued support.

Submit an editorial to your local paper every 35 days.  It is important to publicly show support for gay marriage! 
Helpful suggestions

Dontamend.com
 


Previous updates:

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

  

News Articles of Interest

Upcoming Events 

 

Ohio's anti-gay Issue 1 campaign gets ugly
Ohio's secretary of state unfavorably compared same-sex couples to barnyard animals as he campaigned for Issue 1, the ballot measure that would not only ban same-sex marriage but prevent public entities from offering domestic partner benefits. 

During a Tuesday night appearance at a church in the Toledo suburb of Sylvania, Kenneth Blackwell was quoted by WTOL.com as saying, "I don't know how many of you have a farming background, but I can tell you right now that notion (same-sex marriage) even defies barnyard logic … the barnyard knows better." 

Full Story 
   

Gay marriage moves to top of election topics, with unpredictable results
WASHINGTON -- A year after the Massachusetts supreme court gave gays the right to marry, the issue of same-sex marriage has added an unpredictable element to races both for the presidency and for Congress.

Opponents of same-sex marriage see like-minded social conservatives trooping to the polls, a plus for President Bush and Republicans, especially in the 11 states with ballot initiatives on banning gay marriage.

"People are really going to turn out, especially in states where this is on the ballot," said Roberta Combs, president of the Christian Coalition of America. That could be crucial in four of those 11 states -- Arkansas, Ohio, Michigan and Oregon -- where the vote for president is too close to call

Full Story 

Pa. judge tosses lawmakers' marriage suit
On Tuesday a Pennsylvania county judge dismissed a lawsuit by 12 state lawmakers who filed against a same-sex couple because the two talked about challenging the state's ban on same-sex marriage.

The couple gained attention on March 15 when Robert Seneca, 49, and Stephen Stahl, 55, tried to apply for a marriage license at the Bucks County Courthouse. When the register of wills refused their application, Seneca and Stahl said they would consider suing the state.

Full Story 
  

Make a difference today
With elections just two weeks away, I'm sure you are receiving more than your fair share of e-mail messages about how you can make a difference. I know we've sent a few already.

This election is being hailed as perhaps the most important in our lifetimes. While that's certainly true of the national elections, it is equally true of our state elections here in Massachusetts. Equal marriage rights for same-sex couples may be on the line.
 

Full Story 

HRC ENDORSES TWO FAIR-MINDED LEADERS IN PENNSYLVANIA 13
WASHINGTON — The Human Rights Campaign announced that it is endorsing two candidates, Republican Melissa Brown and Democrat Allyson Schwartz, in the Pennsylvania 13th district congressional race, which covers parts of Philadelphia and Montgomery County. Both candidates have proven track records supporting gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender equality and oppose amending the U.S. Constitution to deny rights to same-sex couples.
Full Story 


Wednesday, October 20th
2004 Bill of Rights Dinner
The American Civil Liberties Union Foundation of Massachusetts invites you to attend our Bill of Rights Dinner, featuring the presentation of the Roger Baldwin Award to Barry C. Scheck and Peter J. Neufeld of the Innocence Project, as well as social commentary by Jimmy Tingle. Visit www.aclu-mass.org to learn more. 

Saturday, October 23rd
23rd Annual New England Dinner and Silent Auction
Join us for the 23rd Annual HRC New England Dinner and Silent Auction in support of LGBT equality at the Hynes Convention Center in Boston, 900 Boylston St. Special guests include Tony and Two-time Grammy Award Winner Jennifer Holiday and 19-Emmy Award Winner, Phil Donahue. Ticket price is $200. For tickets visit boxofficetickets.com or call 800-494-TIXS. 

Tuesday, November 2
ELECTION DAY