Jerry's email update on the fight for Equal Rights (October 19, 2005)
  

Mass. Moves To Halt Fraud In Anti-Gay Measure.

ALSO: Get Out The Vote Campaigns In Full Swing As Maine Anti-Gay Measure Heads To Polls

Friends,

I'm back form my late honeymoon in Italy!...  That is why there was no update sent out last week... I had published an update on the web the week before but sent the email copy just as I was running out the door for our trip and it turns out did not send out... so looks like everyone has had a two week break.

Unfortunately our opposition does not take breaks.  Since I left, another Federal Amendment has been submitted and multiple states are ready for anti-gay measures at the ballot box.


Mass. Moves To Halt Fraud In Anti-Gay Measure
BOSTON --The Massachusetts Senate has passed legislation to outlaw so-called "bait and switch" tactics in the collecting of names on ballot initiatives.

The move follows allegations of fraud by signature gathers paid to collect names to have a proposed amendment banning same-sex marriage and civil unions on the 2008 ballot

If the bill becomes law in the next few weeks, it would give voters who believe they had been deceived until Dec. 7 to remove their names from the anti-gay petition.
FULL STORY 


Get Out The Vote Campaigns In Full Swing As Maine Anti-Gay Measure Heads To Polls
Augusta, Maine: With the election just days away, the campaigns supporting and opposing Maine's gay-rights law agree on one thing: grass-roots efforts this weekend to get out the vote will play a key role in the outcome on Tuesday.

Maine Won't Discriminate, which opposes the repeal, has been concentrating on door-to-door campaigning, mailings and phone calls

Despite polls showing 2-to-1 support for the law signed by Gov. John Baldacci, both campaigns think the race is closer than that.
 
FULL STORY 

 

Federal Anti-Gay Marriage Amendment Moves Forward
Washington: Sen. Sam Brownback (R-Kan.) announced Friday that the Senate Sub Committee on the Judiciary will meet on Nov. 2 to markup the so-called Marriage Protection Amendment.

Brownback, the sub committee chair, said he expects to hold a vote that day on the proposed amendment, which would ban same-sex marriage, and then send the measure on to the full committee..
FULL STORY 
 

  

 

TAKE ACTION
NATIONWIDE HERE!
Support Marriage Equality for ALL
From coast to coast, we are coming closer to achieving true marriage equality for GLBT Americans. But we need your help to fight efforts to deny marriage rights to same-sex couples, including any Constitutional amendment. Please, sign the Million For Marriage petition below, and be a part of this historic civil rights battle. Gay, straight, married, single...we need everyone who believes in marriage equality to stand up NOW.
Tell your Senator to Oppose the Marriage Protection Amendment
Tell your Senators that you oppose the "Marriage Protection Amendment."
 
Urge Senators to remove unfair tax on domestic partner benefits
Domestic partner health care benefits are taxed, while health care benefits for legally married opposite-sex couples are not. Urge your Senators to sign on to a bill that would end the unfair taxation of domestic partner health care benefits.
Tell Scott Bloch to do his job
Scott Bloch at the Office of Special Counsel has been refusing for two years to enforce long-standing protections for federal workers from discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation. Congress is considering legislation to compel Mr. Bloch to enforce the law. Urge your Representative to support this bill - and if he refuses to do his job, urge Congress to remove Mr. Bloch from office.

Denounce Secretary of Education's Intolerance
Send this message to Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings to let her know you disapprove of her intolerance. Urge her to reconsider her comments.
Support Ford Motor Company
On the heels of ending a failed boycott against the Walt Disney Company, an anti-gay lobbying group called the American Family Association has called for a boycott of Ford Motor Company because of its family- friendly policies. Contact Ford today and let them know you appreciate their support of the LGBT community!
Support my friend's new online store and proceeds go to fight for Equality!

Visit the "Political Corrections" space of my friend Scott's new site http://www.thatissogay.net for more information.

Elect Deval Patrick as MA Governor!!!
A man who can help defeat this attack and prevent future attacks on equality!!!

I encourage EVERYONE to go to his site and sign up for email updates on how to support his campaign 
MORE News Articles of Interest

Previous updates: 

 
Judge Upholds Oregon's Gay Marriage Ban 
A judge on Friday upheld a gay marriage ban adopted last year by Oregon voters, sweeping aside arguments by gay rights supporters that the measure was flawed.
FULL STORY
 

SLC Begins Signup for Domestic Partner Benefits 
Salt Lake City employees with domestic partners can start to sign up for the city's health benefits programs -- even though it's unclear if the city legally can offer health insurance to those gay and heterosexual partners.
FULL STORY 
 

Michigan Appeals Court Halts Ruling on Same-Sex Benefits 
The Michigan Court of Appeals temporarily halted a ruling Monday that allowed governments and public universities to provide health insurance to the partners of gay employees.
FULL STORY
 

Most Oppose Constitutional Amendment on Marriage in MA 
A slight majority of Massachusetts residents oppose an amendment to the state Constitution that would ban gay marriage by defining marriage as a union between a man and a woman, a Bay State Poll shows..
FULL STORY 
 

Alaska Supreme Court Rules in Favor of Benefits for Same-Sex Partners of Public Employees
The Alaska Supreme Court ruled Friday it is unconstitutional to deny benefits to the same-sex partners of public employees, a victory for gay rights advocates in one of the first states to pass a constitutional ban on gay marriage.
FULL STORY
 

Spain's Highest Court Agrees To Hear Gay Marriage Challenge
Madrid: Spain's Constitutional Court on Friday said it would hear a challenge to the law which allows same-sex marriage.

The Court was asked in September to declare the four month old law illegal. (story)

The Spanish Federation of Gays and Lesbians said it believes the court will uphold the law.
FULL STORY 
 

Neighborhoods Peppered With Anti-Gay Pamphlets
Freeport, Illinois: A Wisconsin pastor who says he is on a crusade against homosexual lifestyles has peppered neighborhoods in Freeport with pamphlets, and some residents who found them on their property are angry.
FULL STORY
 

 

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"

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

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

View The Full Timeline/Newsletter History HERE

*