Jerry's email update on the fight for Equal Rights (February 9, 2006)
  
President Bush Grants Millions Of US Tax Dollars To Anti-Gay Initiatives. 
Also: In MA, special elections gain 1 new vote for equality and maintain one for and one against.

  
Friends,

You would think that Bush has got enough to deal with, covering all his lies about the war, New Orleans, domestic spying (on GLBT advocacy groups (news story on the topic below)) and relationships with lobbyists, but no... in a desperate attempt to boost his approval ratings, he is pandering to the far right, allocating millions of dollars to religious groups that are trying to ban same-sex marriage.  His conditions specifically call out that no funding can be used to support same-sex marriage.

In MA, time is now very critical in reaching out to our representatives about the petition effort underway to rescind marriage rights from same-sex couples. Please check with your local state senator and representative to see how they intend to vote.

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 Updates This Week:

  

Bush Hands Millions In Federal Funds To Anti-Gay Groups 
(Washington) With leaders of some of America's leading anti-gay marriage groups looking on President Bush has signed legislation giving $500 million to faith-based programs to promote and strengthen opposite-sex marriage. 

The provision is part of the deficit reduction bill passed by Congress. "[It] allows faith-based groups that provide social services to receive federal funding without changing the way they hire," Bush noted at the White House signing ceremony. 

Under the law faith-based groups are able to circumvent local and human rights laws that are supposed to protect LGBT workers.
FULL STORY


Equality Gains One New Supporting Vote In MA Special Elections. 
(BOSTON) - In special election races for seats in Massachusetts' House, marriage equality won one and lost one. Bob Rice, who supports same-sex marriage and opposes the anti-gay marriage amendment, will take the Second Worcester District seat, according to the Boston Globe. And Virginia Coppola, who believes that Massachusetts residents should be allowed to vote on the amendment, will be filling the 1st Bristol District seat vacated by her husband, Michael Coppola, who died last fall. Coppola was challenged by gay marriage proponent Claire Naughton.
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: 

 
Pentagon Says It Spied on Protesters
WASHINGTON, D.C. –The Defense Department has acknowledged collecting “inappropriate” information on protesters.

The Pentagon "has not only acknowledged that it conducted surveillance of civilian groups, but also that the surveillance and information collected were ‘inappropriate.’”
FULL STORY F

New Hampshire Mulls Gay Marriage Ban
(Concord, New Hampshire) Gay marriage already is illegal in New Hampshire, but legislators today will hear a proposal to ban same sex unions through a constitutional amendment.
FULL STORY
 

Conn. Conservative Group Demands Say In Gay Marriage Suit 
(Hartford, Connecticut) A conservative family organization told the Connecticut Supreme Court on Thursday that it should be allowed to argue against same-sex marriage in case brought by eight gay and lesbian couples.
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
 

Idaho Senate Prepares To Vote On Gay Unions Ban
(Boise, Idaho) The Idaho Senate will vote Monday on a proposed amendment to the state constitution that would ban same-sex marriage and civil unions.
FULL STORY
 

Battle Lines Drawn For Colorado Anti-Gay Amendment Fight 
(Denver, Colorado) A gay software millionaire, a high-profile evangelical group and others with plenty of political savvy are lining up for a potentially free-spending battle this fall over whether to amend the Colorado constitution to ban gay marriage.
FULL STORY 

 
Big Money Flowing In To Minnesota Gay Marriage Fight 
(Minneapolis, Minnesota) The group leading an effort to define marriage as a heterosexual institution in Minnesota raised $220,000 last year -- more than half of it from just two donors who opened their wallets to the cause.
FULL STORY 

Alabama House Rejects Gay Hate Bill
(Montgomery, Alabama) The state House voted Thursday against changing Alabama's hate crimes law to include offenses against people because of their sexual orientation.
FULL STORY
 

Virginia Gay Rights Bill Dies In Committee
(Richmond, Virginia) Legislation to explicitly prohibit discrimination against gays and lesbians in state and local government employment practices was rejected by a Senate committee Wednesday.
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
 

Court Asked To Kill Proposed Fla. Anti-Gay Amendment  
(Tallahassee, Florida) A group trying to get a proposed amendment to ban gay marriage placed before voters asked the Florida Supreme Court on Wednesday to approve the wording even though the organization failed to get enough signatures to proceed this year.
FULL STORY
 

Anti-Gay Canadian Gov't Sworn In
(Ottawa) Conservative leader Stephen Harper was sworn in as Canada's 22nd prime minister on Monday.
FULL STORY

 
Vermont Governor Suggests Gay Marriage Veto
(Montpelier, Vermont) Vermont Gov. Jim Douglas suggested Monday that if the legislature passes a gay marriage bill he would veto it.
FULL STORY

Hospital Refused To Recognize Conn. Gay Partner Law
(Waterbury, Connecticut) A doctor has accused St. Mary's Hospital of bias for its refusal to extend health insurance to his civil-union partner.
FULL STORY

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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