Jerry's email update on the fight for Equal Rights (March 2, 2006)
  

SPECIAL THANKS GOES OUT TO OUR FRIEND JOE...
...for his recent efforts to communicate 
& NOW MEET WITH with his Attleboro area Legislators. You're the example we ALL should be following Joe! THANKS!
  
 
Criminal Probe Into Alleged Anti-Gay MA Amendment Forgeries
Also In the News: 
Quincy's "Church of the Presidents" Forbidden From Hanging Pro-Gay Marriage Banner, But its not over! We can influence Round #2, by showing support.

  
Friends,

In my hometown of Quincy, a request by The United First Parish Church to hang a large banner to show its support of marriage equality was rejected by the city's historical committee.  This just happens to be the church, and final resting place of John Adams the author of the  MA Constitution.  As the official church of John Adams, this could be a very strong message to the entire state of Massachusetts; a positive message strong enough to stand up to the millions of dollars funneled into the catholic and protestant efforts to amend President Adam's carefully chosen words in our Constitution. 

This request is not over yet.  This coming Tuesday night, the Church goes to the City's Zoning Board of Appeals.  PLEASE try to attend this meeting!  Supporters of equality and free expression need to make a strong showing to encourage the Zoning Board to approve the banner.  Quincy residence is not required!

Tuesday, March 7,  7:15 PM
Council Chambers, Quincy City Hall across the street from the UFP Church
1305 Hancock Street, Quincy Center

Just to motivate you a little further to attend, you should know that Kris Mineau, The Leader of the bigoted petition effort and primary voice of anti-gay rhetoric in MA has recently been published in the state-wide press as saying while many churches are actively involved in the issue, most "are taking a more civil approach" than hanging a large banner outside their sanctuary.

"It's a shame that this could happen right there at the burial ground of great patriotic leaders like John Adams and others," Mineau said. "I'm sure they are rolling over in their graves."... Angry Yet?... I'm PISSED!
  

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: 

 
Church Forbidden From Hanging Pro-Gay Marriage Banner
 (Quincy, Massachusetts) This city's historic commission has denied a request by its "Church of the Presidents" to hang a large banner in support of gay marriage on the front of the church.

The United First Parish Church - widely known as The Church of the Presidents - has petitioned city officials for permission to hang a 34-foot-by-4-foot banner reading ‘‘People of Faith for Marriage Equality’’ above its main entrance on Hancock Street in the heart of downtown Quincy.
FULL STORY
  

Criminal Probe Into Alleged Anti-Gay Amendment Forgeries
(Boston, Massachusetts) A criminal investigation has begun into the gathering of names for a ballot initiative to ban same-sex marriage in Massachusetts. 

Attorney General Tom Reilly ordered the probe following allegations of widespread fraud and forgery. 

The petitions were gathered by Vote On Marriage an umbrella group made up of the Catholic Church and evangelical groups and certified after the group submitted 120-thousand signatures almost double the number of voters needed.
FULL STORY
 

Maryland GOP Reintroduces Anti-Gay Amendment 
(Annapolis, Maryland) Republicans in the Maryland legislature refuse to abandon their quest for a constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriages.
FULL STORY

  
Wisconsin To Vote On Gay Marriage In November  
(Madison, Wisconsin) Wisconsin voters will decide in November whether to amend the state constitution to ban gay marriage and civil unions after the proposal cleared its final hurdle in the Republican-controlled Legislature in Madison Tuesday night.
FULL STORY
 

Alito Thanks Gay Foes For Support 
(Washington) A letter from newly appointed Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito to Focus the Family founder James Dobson thanking him for his organization's support during Senate confirmation hearings is drawing fire.
FULL STORY 

 
Pastor Not Guilty In Lesbian Marriage Trial
(Santa Rosa, California) A longtime Presbyterian minister who was the first of her faith to be tried for officiating at the unions of gay couples was acquitted Friday of violating her denomination's position on same-sex marriage.
FULL STORY 

Minnesota Catholics Divided On Gay Marriage Ban
(Bloomington, Minnesota) One recent Sunday, when many priests and pastors across Minnesota were urging their flocks to support a statewide constitutional ban on gay marriage, parishioners at St. Edward's Church were instead asked to pray for "those whose human dignity is under assault by hatred and prejudice."
FULL STORY
 

Priests Challenge Vatican On Gays 
(Montreal, Quebec) Nineteen priests in Quebec have issued a stinging public rebuke of the Vatican position of gays and same-sex marriage. 

In an open letter published in La Presse, the largest circulation newspaper in the province, they called on other Catholic clergy to join them in opposing the Vatican ban on gays in seminaries and same-sex marriage.

Under the headline "Enough is enough," the priests charge that by pronouncing homosexuality a "disorder," the church is fuelling homophobia.
FULL STORY

Colorado GOP Domestic Bill Stalls
(Denver, Colorado) A Republican bill that would would grant some limited rights to a wide range of adult partners referred to as "reciprocal beneficiaries", including same-sex couples, siblings and roommates sputtered and stalled Monday in a Senate committee.

The legislation was proposed to portray the GOP as moderates as the party pushes forward on a proposed amendment to the state constitution to bar same-sex marriage and to counter a Democratic proposal to let voters decide on a same-sex domestic partner law.
FULL STORY


IRS Goes After Gay Couples
(Washington) The Internal Revenue Service has begun warning tax preparers, businesses and state governments that same-sex couples legally married in Massachusetts or registered as domestic partners in states such as California and New Jersey must file separate income tax forms.
FULL STORY 

Massachusetts' RCFM to gather pro-marriage testimonies
(Boston, Massachusetts) In the run-up to the expected vote in the State House on a constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriage this May, the Religious Coalition for the Freedom to Marry (RCFM) is calling on clergy and people of faith who support same-sex marriage to write testimonies on the impact that same-sex marriage has had on their lives. RCFM will collect these testimonies into a book that they will present to each lawmaker prior to the expected May 10 constitutional convention (ConCon).

The deadline for submissions is April 17, and they can be sent to RCFM either via e-mail to info@rcfm.org or by mail to RCFM, 11 Beacon Street, Suite 1125, Boston, MA 02108..
 
FULL STORY   --   SUBMIT A TESTIMONY
  

 

2/23/2006: "Church of the Presidents" wants to unfurl huge pro-gay marriage banner

2/16/2006: New nationwide amendment to US Constitution introduced

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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