Friends, 

The highly emotional roller coaster to maintain our civil rights continues downward this week. There are two very important stories to follow this week.  

The first is in regard to the two upcoming State Special Elections to replace pro-equality legislators. Both races hold a potential LOSS of pro-equality support.  Make no mistake, those promoting the amendment know this and are doing everything they can to campaign for anti-equality candidates.  Stories in the Boston Globe and InNewsWeekly have described the difficult time candidates are having as many in their district are not paying any attention to their race.

If you know anyone in Dedham, Walpole, West Boylston, Westwood or WORCESTER, PLEASE SPREAD THE WORD ON THESE ELECTIONS!...  

Same-sex marriage seen as factor in 14th District 
Candidates split on putting vote before the people

8 turn in papers for 11th Norfolk rep race

The second article of interest can be read in this week's Bay Windows.  It describes in detail, what we are in for, here in Massachusetts if the legislature gives the final approval to this amendment this year.  It is a detailed account of what has occurred in the other states that have fought amendment battles for marriage rights.  It also goes into detail on the difference we would see here in MA, the only place where full marriage equality exists.  A place that would receive particular attention and funding nationwide.  It is not pretty!  We would be subject to some of the most hateful attacks EVER.... What is most scarey is that THIS IS A REAL POSSIBILITY.  Something that we desperately need to step up our efforts to defeat...  PLEASE read the story and pass it on to your friends and family, asking them to contact their legislators NOW. 

If you have comments/feedback that I should include next week, please feel free to use the feedback link to the left. 

Could it happen here?
In 2008, Massachusetts could become the 25th state in five years to vote on a constitutional amendment that would define marriage to the exclusion of same-sex couples. What would such a campaign look like in the Bay State? Bay Windows reporter Ethan Jacobs interviewed activists, political consultants, and LGBT citizens from seven of the states that have faced marriage amendment ballot initiatives. This is what he found.

Read the report

Read transcripts of interviews with people who lived through the campaigns and listen to the interviews.

Watch some of the anti-gay advertisements aired.

Get detailed financial information from the campaigns in Ohio, Wisconsin, Arizona and Colorado.

Statewide special elections could unseat gay-friendly legislators 
GAY MARRIAGE ADVOCATES UNSURE OF ELECTION OUTCOMES 
The outcome of special elections scheduled to take place in the next few weeks across the state could mean the difference in the next Constitutional Convention between legislators moving forward or permanently squashing efforts to put a proposed amendment banning same-sex marriage on the 2008 ballot. (Read More)

Local House candidates scramble to make impression 
The field of candidates for the open 11th Norfolk District House seat is large -- four Democrats, two Republicans, and two independents, as of this week's initial filing deadline -- with no candidate seen as dominant. (Read More)

Same-sex marriage seen as factor in 14th District 
Activists on both sides of the battle over same-sex marriage are watching the special House election in the 14th Worcester District with the knowledge that the winner will eventually cast a vote on whether to let the public settle the issue once and for all. 
 
Actually, there are two special elections going on right now, and both involve races to replace state representatives who voted against putting same-sex marriage to a referendum. (Read More)
 

Please take note, that you don't need to be from my area of MA anymore to get a letter to the editor published. PLEASE help to counter the anti-gay comments being printed and to help educate the general public. You can take a look at the recent letters in my "Editorial Watch" below for inspiration then submit your own letters.

PLEASE HELP by forwarding to me (sscivilrights@comcast.net,) "letters to the editor" and "news editorials" from any/all sources possible so that we can keep track and try to respond. 

THIS WEEK	LAST WEEK
PATRIOT LEDGER: READER’S VIEW: Hate shows through in gay marriage argument  BOSTON GLOBE: A call for separation of school and state BOSTON GLOBE: The meaning of marriage BOSTON GLOBE: School lessons  (BOTH VIEWS)	PATRIOT LEDGER: READER’S VIEW: Why gay marriage threatens some people  PATRIOT LEDGER: READER’S VIEW: Discussing sensitive topics is a parent’s job

BOSTON GLOBE EDITORIAL: A shameful reversal of rights

 

Contact Your Legislators... REGULARLY!

Contact your legislators
Its now time where new people need to step up.  Legislators already know the names of those who have been dedicated to this fight so far and seem to be taking them/us for granted.  WE NEED NEW PEOPLE TO CONTACT LEGISLATORS!..  AND SUBMIT LETTERS TO THE PRESS... From gay AND STRAIGHT folks alike.

Learn about your legislators

View the 2006 votes [pdf]

Write your local newspaper... REGULARLY!

Important debates happen in your local newspaper. Help us spread the word about marriage equality.

Write your newspaper
Anti-gay groups have been watching the editorial section of the South Shore's Patriot Ledger and noticing that letters WERE starting to lean in our favor.  Since my last newsletter, 3 anti-gay letters have been published that need our response... if 3 are published against us, then we need to strive for 6 more for us.  We NEED to send a public message to our legislators that majority is against this amendment.  I cannot stress enough, that it is the legislators in this area that a critical to killing the amendment.  PLEASE WRITE IN... OR... Ghost write for friends and submit for them (with their permission of course as they will need to respond with a final OK when the paper contacts them)