Friends, 

Many of you on this list, who have been active in the past, seem to have given up.  Please realize that we have accomplished an amazing feat so far.  Just 2 years back we had nearly 3/4 of the legislature voting against us... WE ARE NOW ONLY 8 VOTES AWAY FROM HAVING OVER 3/4 OF THE LEGISLATURE FOR US!..  WE CAN WIN!... WE CAN ACTUALLY DO THIS, BUT ONLY WITH YOUR RE-ENERGIZED HELP!..

Now that I have agreed to host a MassEquality, PARTY FOR EQUALITY, I've been trying really hard to brainstorm ideas on how my party can actually make a difference.  This is not an easy task; I can REALLY use the advice of my friends.  

My current plan is to include invites to local politicians and city committee members, hoping to identify new contacts that might be willing to call on our legislators to switch their votes and kill the amendment.  Even if they decline, I will use RSVPs as a way to follow-up with my request... My hope is that just because they can't make the party doesn't necessarily mean they won't take action to support us.

These are the results of my ideas so far..  

Invite Contacts on this list:  Receiving mostly declines  
Invite City Councilors:  7 invited - 2 declines, 5 no reply
Invite Quincy Human Rights Commission:  No reply yet
Invite MA Treasurer (Quincy resident) Tim Cahill:  Is out of the country for 3 weeks
Pull strings to invite Aerosmith band members:  On tour that day
Invite other married SS couples in Quincy:  Just received list from MassEquality

Believe it or not, the results so far do not discourage me.  I currently have 3 SS-married couples, at least 3 family members and 2 other friends coming (that's already a decent crowd for our small home)...  if the attendees do not include new contacts, it's still not a failure; the party will be used to energize and brainstorm new ideas for all of us to follow through on.

FRIENDS, PLEASE, if you have any thoughts or advice on how we can influence local legislators to change their votes to support us, please let me know!..  The next constitutional convention is less than a month away!

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

ON 5/11, WE COULD LOSE AN EXISTING VOTE FOR EQUALITY The 11th Norfolk District (Dedham, Westwood & Walpole) is holding a special election to fill vacancy of  Pro-Equality Rep Robert K. Coughlin. So Far I've learned that ALL democrats listed below support us (Thanks Joe for the info!): Primary Candidates:         D- Stephen Bilafer         D- Thomas Boncek          D- Joanne Flatley         D- Cheryl Schoenfeld         R- William McKinney          R- Doug Obey         I- Paul McMurtry         I- Margot Pyle

Candidates joust for House seat. 
Primary Tuesday for 11th Norfolk spot - The Boston Globe
With a sparse turnout expected and few differences on issues, candidates in the 11th Norfolk state representative primary Tuesday are focused on getting their committed supporters to the polls.
 
On issues, the candidates are not far apart, at least within their parties. All of the Democrats say they support abortion rights and oppose putting on the ballot a referendum that would ban gay marriage. The two Republicans describe themselves as opposed to abortion, and say they favor allowing the electorate to vote on the gay marriage question. All of the candidates have stressed support for education and their commitment to fighting for local aid for the district. (Read More)
  

Cirignano Arraigned After Rally Incident. 
Larry Cirignano, the former head of a Catholic group opposed to same-sex marriage, has pleaded not guilty to two charges stemming from an alleged shoving incident during a rally at Worcester City Hall last December.
 
The 50-year-old former head of Catholic Citizenship who now lives in Arlington, Va., was arraigned April 11 on charges of assault and battery and a civil rights violation stemming from his alleged shoving of a counter-demonstrator at the rally, the Worcester Telegram & Gazette reports. (Read More)

Legislators debate reforming Constitutional amendment process 
POSSIBLE CHANGES INCLUDE UPPING NUMBER OF VOTES NEEDED FOR AMENDMENT ADVANCEMENT, ADDING CIVIL RIGHTS TO LIST RESTRICTED FROM BECOMING BALLOT QUESTIONS; MARRIAGE EQUALITY ADVOCATES HOPEFUL.
While one reform seeks to raise the threshold for advancing proposed amendments from 50 to 100 votes, another proposed change would add civil rights to a list of protected liberties already restricted from becoming ballot questions. (Read More). 
   

Amending Article 48
During a hearing before the Joint Committee on the Judiciary at the State House Tuesday afternoon, Angela McElroy, a student at Tallahassee Community College in Florida, described her autumn trip to Massachusetts in 2005, during which she learned a few things about politics. 
First, she realized that she could make money by collecting initiative petition signatures in a state roughly 1100 miles from her hometown. Second, she learned how to trick the locals into signing things haphazardly and unknowingly. To do so, she was instructed by her employer, Young Political Majors, a subcontractor for California-based Arno Politcal Consultants, to go native by wearing a Red Sox hat and shirt. She was also taught to profile her targets.. (Read More)
  

Proposed repeal of 1913 law could lure gay couples to Mass. 
BOSTON --Gay couples from across the country could be getting the green light to marry in Massachusetts after three of the state's top political leaders said they support repealing a 94-year-old law that has blocked the practice. (Read More)