Jerry's email update on the fight for Equal Rights (February 16, 2006)
  

LISTEN UP!...

MA Legislators To Debate/Vote on Marriage Rights Again

The time is NOW to contact MA Senators & Representatives!

Then, please contact me to let him know how they intend to vote.  I will report what you have learned to MassEquality.

Also In the News: 
A new nationwide amendment to US Constitution introduced.

  
Friends,

OK, I know this topic feels like it is getting old, but the supremacists in this country are not giving up. The National Republican Party is trying to regain popularity by outright lying about about GLBT people, claiming that we are a threat to society and they are the party to protect the country from GLBT people/families.  This horrible strategy continues to work as the Nation trusts is leaders (as it should be able to do.) They have introduced yet another amendment to the US Constitution (that will over-rides state laws) to specifically call out a ban on marriage protections for GLBT people.

In MA, our legislators are about to begin the marriage debate and vote all over again, this time to give uneducated and prejudiced, residents the opportunity to vote to rescind marriage rights from gay and lesbian couples.  Please re-check with your local state Senator and Representative to see how they intend to vote... NOW!
 
MassEquality is currently scheduling meetings to discuss what we can do to try to secure the votes we need.

We still need to sway at least 29 more legislative votes in our favor to defeat this horrible amendment!!!  I also ask you to please consider donating, whatever you can to MassEquality, the coalition of groups fighting for our rights; even if this is a type of donation that you do not usually make, or if you have already donated. 
  

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."
 
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.

HELP!

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: 

 
New Allegations Of Fraud In Mass. Anti-Gay Amendment
(Boston, Massachusetts) More people are coming forward to say that even though their names appeared on petitions calling for a a vote on a proposed constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriage they never signed the papers.

This week Northampton City Councilor At-Large James M. Dostal discovered his name was on one petition.
FULL STORY 

US Senate To Vote In June On NATIONAL Anti-Gay Amendment
(Washington) Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-Tenn.) has announced that he will bring the so-called “Marriage Protection Amendment” to a full vote in the Senate on June 5.
FULL STORY
 

Mass. Court Delays Out-Of-State Gay Marriage Ruling. 
(Boston, Massachusetts) It could be weeks, possibly months, before same-sex couples from outside Massachusetts learn if they will be allowed to marry. 
FULL STORY
 

MA Catholic Bishops Get Cool Response To Call For Gay Adoption Exemption
(Boston, Massachusetts) Gov. Mitt Romney and a top legislative leader say a request by the state's four Roman Catholic bishops to exempt Catholic social service agencies from having to place adoptive children with gay households is unlikely to be granted.
FULL STORY
 

N.J. High Court Justices Grill Lawyers On Gay Marriage 
(Trenton, New Jersey) The New Jersey Supreme Court heard arguments Wednesday morning in a lawsuit challenging the state's ban on same-sex marriage.
FULL STORY

  
Florida Bill To Allow Gay Adoption Dropped 
(Tallahassee, Florida) An attempt to amend what has been described as the most anti-gay adoption law in the country was put on hold Tuesday.
FULL STORY
 

NYC Gay Benefits Law Ruled Invalid 
(New York City) New York City's Equal Benefits Law was struck down Tuesday in the State's highest court.
FULL STORY 

 
Banning Gay Marriage Bad For Mental Health Group Says
(Austin, Texas) A counseling center that provides psychotherapy services to Austin's LGBT community says that the constitutional amendment passed by Texas voters last November is taking a toll on the mental of health of gays and lesbians in the state.
FULL STORY 

GOP Leaders: Ohio Anti-Gay Adoption Bill D.O.A.
(Columbus, Ohio) A bill to ban gays, bisexuals, and transgenderds from adopting, that was proposed this week by 10 far-right Republicans, is dead in the water GOP and Democratic party leaders said Saturday.
FULL STORY
 

Alaska Moves On Gay Benefits Ban Amendment
(Juneau, Alaska) A wide range of Alaska residents have told a state Senate committee that a proposed constitutional amendment to ban health benefits to the same-sex partners of gay and lesbian state and municipal workers is nothing short of discrimination.
FULL STORY

GOP Makes New Bid For Gay Marriage Amendment In Maryland
(Annapolis, Maryland) A week after Republicans were quashed in attempting to get approval for a constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage the GOP is making a new bid.
FULL STORY
 

GOP Pressures Churches For Membership Lists  
(Raleigh, North Carolina) Some church leaders in North Carolina have asked their members to ignore a request made this week by the state Republican Party for copies of church directories that the GOP wants to use in voter registration efforts.
FULL STORY
 

Virginia Senate Changes Anti-Gay Ballot Question
(Richmond, Virginia) A committee examining a proposed amendment to the Virginia Constitution to ban same-sex marriage has changed the wording that would appear on November's ballot.
FULL STORY

Catholic Church Launches Vicious Personal Campaign Against Pro-Gay Spanish PM
(Madrid) A leading Catholic bishop is comparing Spanish Prime Minister José Luis Rodriguez Zapatero to the Roman Emperor Caligula over Spain's legalization of same-sex marriage.
FULL STORY

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 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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