Jerry's email update on the fight for Equal Rights (February 2, 2006)
  
ONE LUCKY BREAK IN A VERY BAD WEEK 
Heroic, Coretta Scott King dies

The President attacks us again 

USA joins Iran & China to block International GLBT rights Group.

2 proposed amendments fail

  
Friends,

We are heading into February with very sad news.  Arguably our most influential hero has passed away. On the Morning of January 31, Coretta Scott King died at the age of 78.

Following that sad news, our President, in his State of The Union Address, renews attacks on GLBT families in an effort to boost his approval ratings.  Condoleezza Rice also joined forces with Iran to block an international GLBT rights group from UN inclusion.

In Massachusetts, We still need to sway at least 30 more legislative votes in our favor to defeat this horrible amendment!!!  I 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. This is an important fight that could change the direction of this country for the better of ALL.  

Significant Update This Week:
 

Gay Civil Rights Advocate Coretta Scott King Dies
Often speaking of the importance of civil rights for gay and lesbian people, Coretta Scott King said in March of 1998, 

“I still hear people say that I should not be talking about the rights of lesbian and gay people and I should stick to the issue of racial justice. ... But I hasten to remind them that Martin Luther King Jr. said, ‘Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.’”

Coretta Scott King also supported a federal bill prohibiting anti-gay discrimination...

FULL STORY F

 

Coretta Scott King, 1927-2006
Icon of civil rights understood LGBT struggle...

 

Unhealthy obsession 
MS Sate Rep. Alice Wolf’s (D-Cambridge) bill to make health class part of the core curriculum of Massachusetts public schools seems as straightforward as they come, but anti-gay activists are convinced that it is a scheme to indoctrinate children into the pro-gay agenda. At a packed Jan. 31 hearing on the bill, H.1641, before the Joint Committee on Education activists from anti-gay organizations like the Article 8 Alliance and the Massachusetts Family Institute argued that the bill would circumvent parents’ rights to opt their children out of sexually explicit curricula, particularly curricula dealing with sexual orientation. The bill was also strongly opposed by anti-abortion activists.
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."
 
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: 

 
president Bush Renews Attack On Gay Marriage
Washington- President Bush reached out to Democrats, called for new education, economic and fuel initiatives and renewed his attack on gay families Monday night in his State of the Union speech.

Addressing a joint session of Congress the president said that "many Americans, especially parents, still have deep concerns about the direction of our culture, and the health of our most basic institutions. They are concerned about unethical conduct by public officials, and discouraged by activist courts that try to redefine marriage.".

FULL STORY F

Barney Frank Blasts Condi's UN Gay Position
(Washington) Saying he had expected more from her Congressman Barney Frank criticized Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice for her role in the rejection of two international LGBT civil rights groups by a United Nations body.
FULL STORY
 

Idaho Amendment To Ban Gay Marriage Advances
(Boise, Idaho) Tony Edmondson is a private person who sticks close to home. He never expected to stand up and describe his personal life to dozens of strangers.
FULL STORY

  
Democrats Outmaneuver GOP To Kill Maryland Anti-Gay Amendment 
(Annapolis, Maryland) A proposed constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage in Maryland died in a House committee today after a day of rancorous debate between Democrats and Republicans on what has become the most emotionally charged issue of the 2006 General Assembly session. 
FULL STORY
 

GOP Names Longtime Gay Foe To Replace Delay
(Washington) Republicans voted Thursday to make Rep. John Boehner (Ohio) the permanent replacement for Delay as House Leader.
FULL STORY
 

Portugal Nixes Gay Marriage Bid 
(Lisbon) As expected Portuguese lesbian couple has been turned down for a marriage license.
FULL STORY 

 
State Confirms Fla. Ant-Gay Measure Dead
(Tallahassee, Florida) The Florida Division of Elections has confirmed that backers of a proposed constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriage failed to get enough signatures to have the issue placed on the November ballot.
FULL STORY 

Utah Bill Would Ban Use Of Tax Dollars For Partner Benefits
(Salt Lake City, Utah) Last fall, Salt Lake City Mayor Rocky Anderson signed an executive order extending health care benefits to the same-sex and unmarried heterosexual partners of city employees.
FULL STORY
 

Banning Gay Marriage 'Act Of Love' Group Says
(Denver, Colorado) Saying they were motivated by love, a coalition of religious and family groups formally kicked off a drive Wednesday for an amendment to the state constitution that would ban gay marriage.
FULL STORY

Washington Gay Rights Bill Signed But Faces Potential Delay
(Olympia, Washington) Washington Gov. Chris Gregoire (pictured) signed a gay civil rights bill into law Tuesday but its implementation could be imperiled.
FULL STORY
 

Virginia Bill That Could Dismantle Gay School Groups Passes House 
(Richmond, Virginia) Virginia's House of Delegates passed legislation Tuesday allowing local school boards to prohibit the use of school facilities by groups they believe encourage promiscuity.
FULL STORY
 

Initiative Launched To Repeal Washington State Gay Rights Law
(Seattle, Washington) Only days after the legislature passed an LGBT civil rights bill, and a day before it is to be signed into law, a Washington political activist Monday announced an initiative to have the measure repealed.
FULL STORY

 
Alabama Mulls Adding Sexuality To Hate Crimes Law
(Montgomery, Alabama) Heated debate is expected when the state House considers legislation Tuesday to expand Alabama's hate crimes law to cover crimes committed because of the victim's sexual orientation.
FULL STORY

2/2/2006: 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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