Jerry's email update on the fight for Equal Rights (December 29, 2005)
  

Repeal of all marriage rights is now a potential reality in MA.

It's not too late to help MassEquality identify petition fraud

PLEASE TAKE ACTION NOW!
Look up the people close to you and contact them about fraud.

Tell them they have until Jan. 6th to get their names removed from the list.
Tell them about you and your story, ask the to be more open to understanding.


Friends,

First, If you belong to the Human Rights Campaign (which I would hope you all do), check out page 25 of the next issue of Equality magazine. (You'll recognize a picture of a couple friends :-)

Now, onto the current mess in MA. Its not too late to help fight this bigoted effort. Just as the petition sponsors are bragging about how many signatures were gathered, we can also argue that they were gathered in an illegal, unfair way, with the proof of as many fraudulent signatures as possible.  MassEquality Needs Support NOW!

The names on the MA, marriage petition have been published! 
We only have until January 6th to identify as many fraudulent signatures as possible to strengthen our argument to throw out this hateful effort sponsored by nation-wide right-wing groups and the worldwide, Roman Catholic Church. 

PLEASE HELP NOW!
ONLY 50 Legislators need to approve it, to put it on the ballot!


What we can and MUST do! :

1) 
VOLUNTEER SOME DECEMBER VACATION TIME:

The names of those who signed the hateful marriage petition will soon be distributed to the public.

MassEquality is leading an effort to identify as many fraudulent signatures as possible as it seems the MA government will be counting all the signatures as valid. CLICK HERE TO LEARN WHAT YOU CAN DO NOW -
We have until January 6th to identify as many fraudulent signatures as possible!


2) 
KEEP CONTACTING YOUR LEGISLATORS!

Massachusetts legislators are scheduled to vote September 14 on an anti-gay constitutional amendment that could revoke equal marriage rights. Your legislators need to hear from you today. CLICK HERE!

3)
Elect Deval Patrick as MA Governor!!!

A man who can STILL defeat this attack and prevent future attacks on equality!!!

If the hateful petition is approved by the Legislature this year, It still needs another approval in a consecutive Constitutional Convention the following year.  These conventions need to be "called" to session.  If elected Governor of Ma, Deval could still help put an end to the petition!

I encourage EVERYONE to go to his site and sign up for email updates on how to support his campaign 

 

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: 

 
Supporters Of Gay Marriage Ban Say They're Being Threatened  
Boston, Massachusetts- A conservative group that collected names for an initiative to ban same-sex marriage in Massachusetts claims people who signed the petitions are being threatened by gay activists.
FULL STORY

Bitter Battle Predicted Overt Mass. Anti-Gay Amendment
Washington- Rep. Barney Frank sees an "angry, divisive" fight ahead for Massachusetts if a proposed constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage reaches the 2008 state ballot.
FULL STORY


Anti-Gay AFA Turns Sights On NBC
(Los Angeles, California) The American Family Association is urging its members to flood NBC with letters denouncing the network's new series "The Book of Daniel" which will feature one of primetime's few openly gay male characters.
FULL STORY

Minnesota Anti-Gay Amendment Faces new Challenge 
(St. Paul, Minnesota) Opponents of gay marriage concede that the outcome of two special elections in Minnesota will make it harder for them to put a constitutional ban on same-sex unions on the ballot next November. 
FULL STORY

CA Gay Marriage Foes Fail in Signature Drive
One of two groups competing to put a gay marriage ban before California voters in 2006 has bowed out of the fight for now, saying the timing and political climate are not right to get such a measure passed.
FULL STORY
 
 

Calif. Gay Marriage Opponents Shift Focus 
SAN FRANCISCO - One of two groups competing to put a gay marriage ban before California voters in 2006 has bowed out of the fight for now, saying the timing and political climate are not right to get such a measure passed.  

FULL STORY
 

Ku Klux Klan to Protest Gay Marriage
The head of a northern Iowa branch of the Ku Klux Klan is organizing a rally next month in Des Moines to protest attempts to legalize gay marriages in Iowa.
FULL STORY
 

Spanish Magistrate Resigns, Refusing to Officiate Same-Sex Marriages  
The Madrid magistrate who refused to marry same-sex couples after gay marriage was legalized throughout Spain has presented a formal resignation to the country’s Supreme Court.
FULL STORY
 

Anti-Gay Amendment Set To Return In Iowa
Des Moines, Iowa- Iowa Republicans are set to make a renewed attempt to pass a constitutional amendment to bar same-sex marriage.
FULL STORY
 

Court Upholds GM's Gay Diversity Program
Indianapolis, Indiana- A General Motors program that allows gays and lesbians, Hispanics or blacks - but not Christians and other religious groups - to organize in employee groups is not committing religious discrimination, a federal court has ruled.
FULL STORY
 
 

UK Gay Couples Now Able To Adopt
London: A new law that came into effect on Friday allows same-sex partners to adopt each other's children. It also will allow both partners to adopt children through an agency or become co-parents through in-vitro fertilization.
FULL STORY

 
Anchorage To Grant Gay Partner Benefits
Anchorage, Alaska- The city of Anchorage said Thursday that it will abide by a court order and provide health and other benefits to the same-sex partners of municipal workers.
FULL STORY


12/22/2005: HELP IDENTIFY FAUDULENT 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"

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!

View The Full Timeline/Newsletter History HERE

 

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