5/12/2007
Edition
  Jerry's 2007, Update on the Fight for Marriage Equality
 

 

JUNE 14, 2007
 


we will know if the public can take away our marriage protections
  

We knew a date would come, but nothing can prepare a person to hear the news of the day you may officially be oppressed like no other minority in the history of this country.   It may not actually occur on that day, but it could be the "beginning of the end" of equality for many people on this list.  Words cannot express what many of us are going through.

We have only one more chance to defeat this hurtful, BIGOTED campaign.  WE ARE CLOSE - IT CAN BE DONE, but 
we need everyone on this distribution to stand up for the minority in the state that is under attack.  

If you are not from MA, but know people in MA, PLEASE contact them and encourage them to take action. Now is the time when friends, family and acquaintances who say that support us must SHOW IT by taking actions to defend us.
 

Now is the time when friends & family who say they support us must SHOW IT by completing these action items:

 

  FIRST AND FOREMOST CALL YOUR SENATOR AND REP'S OFFICE: This is THE MOST POWERFUL WAY to make a difference... If you are not comfortable speaking live, then wait until after hours and leave a message.  

Find your Senator and Representative's phone numbers at: http://massequality.com/action/start.php or  www.wheredoivotema.com 

"Senator/Representative______, my name is ______.   I live on ______   in ______.
I support equal marriage rights for all couples and feel that is is wrong to vote on anyone's rights.
Please oppose the amendment that would eliminate equal marriage rights.
   
Thank you."


 

  Write a letter to your representative and to your senator (even if you already have, in the past) asking that they reject the marriage amendment. Email are ok, but hand-written letters that include your address and phone number have the most impact.   Your letter can be as simple as the phone script listed above.  You can find out who and where to write to at either:

 http://massequality.com/action/start.php 
or  www.wheredoivotema.com 


 

  Discuss the issue with someone new and get as many others as possible to take action too. 

It is the people that legislators have not yet heard from that can make THE DIFFERENCE to vote our way.



  

  Write a "Letters to the Editor" of your local papers... 

Specifically, the PATRIOT LEDGER has asked for your letters. (this publication covers many targeted legislators- who could potentially switch to support us - they ARE wattching)

(if you need inspiration on what to write, please check the "editorial watch" listed below)

Not a writer or uneasy or not sure of the facts?..  I have a crew of writers willing to ghost write or help edit your letters.  The best letters are the ones that speak from the heart.

Tips for Writing Letters to the Editor are located on this PDF file (click here)


 

  If you, or anyone you know, lives in Quincy, PLEASE join the "Quincy for Marriage Equality" list of supporters by sending an email with your name, address and phone number to: contact@quincyformarriageequality.com  

or check out www.quincyformarriageequality.com for more information

    
 

  If you, or anyone you know, lives in Dedham, Westwood or Walpole, PLEASE make sure that you or the people you know get out and vote for D- Stephen Bilafer in the special election being THIS TUESDAY, May 15th.  

If we lose this election, our opposition will gain ANOTHER VOTE! 

 

 

  Contact me and let me know how you've helped... 

 


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

  

ConCon postponed to June 14. 
The months of speculation are over; a joint session of the legislature moved May 9 to reconvene June 14 to take up the proposed constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriage. That gives LGBT advocates just over a month to try to persuade at least eight lawmakers in favor of the amendment to switch sides, and Arline Isaacson, co-chair of the Massachusetts Gay and Lesbian Political Caucus, said while they are making headway, they have not reached those critical eight votes.
. (Read More)

D-Date for Gay Marriage in Massachusetts :: June 14, 2007. 

Lawmakers To Dodge Gay Marriage Vote Again. 

Lawmakers postpone gay marriage vote until at least June 14
  

Deval Patrick Warns Of "Circus" If Gay Marriage Goes To Ballot 
Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick is warning Bay Staters they will be crippled by a "political circus" if a proposed constitutional amendment banning gay marriage makes it to the state ballot. (Read More)   
  

Attorney General pledges support for Goodridge
Pledging to do “whatever I can personally and in my office” to ensure that marriage equality remains the law of the land in Massachusetts, Attorney General Martha Coakley” told attendees at the Massachusetts Lesbian and Gay Bar Association (MLGBA)’s annual dinner on May 11 that she would support an effort to challenge the constitutionality of a proposed anti-gay marriage amendment should it pass at the ballot box in 2008. (Read More)
  

Coakley to fight for gay marriage - Vows challenge if amendment OK'd 
CAMBRIDGE -- Attorney General Martha Coakley said last night that if Massachusetts voters were to approve a ban on same-sex marriages, she would back any efforts to challenge the measure on constitutional grounds. (Read More)

  

RECENT EDITORIALS OF INTEREST: (color coded)

Back to the top of the page

BOSTON GLOBE EDITORIAL: A shameful reversal of rights

THIS WEEK LAST WEEK
PATRIOT LEDGER This looks "green" but is actually RED
OUR VIEW: Validate gay marriage
This is full of inaccuracies (no civil rights have EVER made it to the popular vote) and "vague" poll data.. PLEASE RESPOND IN!... The paper has ASKED for response which means the letter writing campaign begins again!!!

 

PATRIOT LEDGER: THANKS ED!
SPEAK OUT: Some answers to ill-informed questions 

PATRIOT LEDGER- THANKS JIM!
READER’S VIEW: What’s in a name? An important distinction

PATRIOT LEDGER
READER’S VIEW: Letter writer is hoist by his own petard

PATRIOT LEDGER- THANKS JOE
READER’S VIEW: Religious intolerance behind gay marriage rants


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.