Friends, 

I'm happy to report that there are no disastrous updates this week, I wouldn't want to celebrate my 13th anniversary committed to my partner and spouse Ed, alongside bad news.  The worst that I've noticed in the news this week is the Patriot Ledger's editorial praising Senator Murray's statement that she would not block a vote to put our marriage protections on the 2008 ballot. 

There has, however been significant good news to report outside of MA.  The state of New Hampshire has both moved forward towards civil unions AND has rejected the amendment effort to ban same gender marriage, which leaves the door open for civil unions to eventually evolve to marriage.  The state of Connecticut is gaining momentum in evolving from civil unions to marriage... and, the other BIG story is on a national level... Congressman Jim McDermott, D-Wash., introduced a proposed legislation to end tax inequities that apply to employer-provided health insurance for domestic partners.  THIS IS HUGE!.. it's the first step towards equal recognition on a federal level!

YOU'RE INVITED TO JERRY'S EQUALITY HOUSE PARTY!

I've officially responded to MassEquality's call to host an Equality House Party on the weekend of April 28-29, but have not yet decided on a date.  I would like to hear from folks on this list to see which day is better. PLEASE SEND AN EMAIL TO ME RSVPing with a preferred date.  OR.. CONSIDER HOSTING YOUR OWN  The purpose of the house party is for those already in support to get together and see each other, AND to invite new folks to get involved.

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

Changing landscape for Mass. marriage equality
COALITION OF PRO-GAY MARRIAGE GROUPS - FROM ACLU TO GLAD TO KNOWTHYNEIGHBOR.ORG - HEARTENED BY NEW SENATE PRESIDENT, WORKING IN CONCERT TO DEFEAT AMENDMENT BANNING GAY MARRIAGE 
The election of a new Massachusetts Senate president, who favors same-sex civil marriage rights, is a significant development in a changing set of power dynamics on Beacon Hill... But the battle to keep a gay marriage ban from reaching voters is by no means over... Already, at least three things are clear: .  (Read More)
  

Political Intelligence - Will Terry Murray do the right thing?... 
Here’s a question to ponder as state lawmakers recklessly careen ahead with plans to take a second vote on an amendment to the state constitution that would take away the civil marriage rights of same-sex couples: Where were these very same legislators in 2000 when voters, by 60 percent to 40 percent margin, ordered them to roll back the state income tax from 5.85 percent to 5 percent?.. (Read More)

  
KP students honored for Brown coverage 
WRENTHAM - Something positive has finally come out of state Sen. Scott Brown's controversial appearance last month at King Philip Regional High School.

Student journalists at the school won a second-place award from the Associated Press for their coverage of the fallout from an obscenity-laced talk the senator made at the school... (Read More). 
 

Rep. Barney Frank speaks about LGBT rights
Rep. Barney Frank (D-MA), one of the first openly gay members of Congress, spoke candidly last night at an event sponsored by Allied in Pride and the College Democrats. His topics included same-sex marriage, the war in Iraq, and partisan politics. He also discussed rights for LGBT couples.  (Read More)
  

  

   
Murray says she will allow vote on gay marriage amendment 
Newly elected Senate President Therese Murray said Thursday she would work with gay rights advocates to defeat a proposed constitutional amendment outlawing gay marriage -- but won’t block lawmakers from voting on the measure.

Some gay marriage supporters had hoped the Plymouth Democrat, who will preside over the next joint session of the House and Senate, would use any one of a number of parliamentary maneuvers to block a vote.  (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: OUR VIEW: The right decision  PATRIOT LEDGER: A SHORT HISTORY: Call him Trav or Bobby-T, he was a class act	BOSTON GLOBE EDITORIAL: A painful split in Attleboro PATRIOT LEDGER: OUR VIEW: Good luck, madam

BOSTON GLOBE EDITORIAL: A shameful reversal of rights

 

The stakes have never been higher, and we need every single person who cares about marriage equality to take action. We can change the outcome of this vote – but we need your help. Call your legislators, write your local newspapers, talk to your neighbors, volunteer your time or make a donation.

You know it’s wrong to hold a public vote on civil rights. Now is the time to stand up and have your voice be counted.

PLEASE FORWARD THIS LINK TO YOUR FRIENDS AND COLLEAGUES ASKING THEM TO JOIN MY DISTRIBUTION:

http://home.comcast.net/~sscivilrights 
We need more people to get involved else our marriage protections are definitely going to the ballot!

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)