May 13th, Edition 

Friends,

READ CLOSELY...This update contains a lot of new information.  

The 2006 Constitutional Convention was officially delayed to July 12th. The reason for the delay is to wait for the SJC ruling on GLAD's challenge to the petition. The delay is a very good thing, although it DOES mean more work.   This gives us time to determine which legislators are worth focusing on with the extra time we have been given.  

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We now have 140 of the 151 votes... WE STILL NEED 11 MORE to defeat the petition... 

WE ARE FACING A CRISIS OF COMPLACENCY (read more here) 
If you feel that perhaps you have not done enough to make a difference, you've now been given time to make even more impact. If you have friends that could support us, ask them to speak out for us in a written letter or phone call.  

"We're facing a complacency in the gay community and amongst our straight allies..." "They tend to think it's over, it's done, they're safe. They don't seem to recognize what a serious threat this new initiative is." Arline Isaacson,  Co-chairwoman of the Massachusetts Gay and Lesbian Political Caucus.

If your legislators are already on our side then contact others who are "on the fence" I am trying to get a list of those who might be swayed, from our contacts at MassEquality. Until then, PLEASE CONTACT Senate President Travaglini, and House Speaker DiMasi.  These two have legislative influence in the House and Senate and can make a big difference. 

Three other legislators of focus are right here in my town of Quincy.  In order of importance: Senator Michael Morrissey, Representative Bruce Ayers, and Representative Stephen Tobin.  

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We just won the support of one our leading democratic foes... 

Representative John Roger's official denouncement of the citizen's petition is a HUGE win for us, as he STILL believes that "marriage" is for hetero couples only. He is against this proposed amendment because it does not provide for any legal protections.  Hopefully his words will begin the trend with legislators that might have a similar stance. 

In a recent interview with Bay Windows, he also revealed a procedural trick that could be used to defeat the petition. Although it is good to know what can be done, we also know that our opposition has plans that are NOT being revealed.
   

SPECIAL THANKS TO OUR FRIENDS KEVIN AND JAY FOR A HUGE PERSONAL SACRIFICE THEY HAVE MADE; I THINK YOU ARE AWESOME!  

FRIENDS, PLEASE KEEP THE LETTERS TO EDITORS COMING!   If it has been 30 days since your last letter, please send in another... Letters form our opposition keep getting the spotlight.

Your Friend, 

Jerry
 

ACTION ITEMS!...  Its not too late!

NEWSPAPER "LETTERS TO THE EDITOR" 
In the cases where friends do not have the time, I (we) WILL WRITE EDITORIALS FOR YOU.  I'll work with other friends that are still available for authoring and editing assistance. All you will need to do is edit at will and submit to your local papers.  The Patriot Ledger in particular is in need of attention as it is the paper that speaks directly to the legislators that need attention. 

 
  
MAIL PHOTOS OF REAL PEOPLE
I have tried to spread the message from MassEquality that we need to mail written letters to our legislators asking to meet.  Unlike the editorial request, this is not something that I am able to track for progress, other than the one or two email that I have received from friends telling me that they have done so... So now, with your help, I propose that we STEP IT UP A NOTCH BY MAILING PHOTOS OF THOSE IN SUPPORT OF CIVIL MARRIAGE EQUALITY.  
  

OPERATION PHOTO-DROP! Submit your photos and messages to legislators ASAP
Friends, Spread the message to your family, friends and other contacts...  Submit your photo with a message to your legislators and Jerry will print oversized copies and deliver them  to the state house for you!  Since many of our senators and representatives are rejecting requests to meet; it is important that they see the faces of constituents who oppose the attempt to amend discrimination into our state constitution.   REMEMBER: In order to get your message directly to the correct contacts you will need to provide your name and address (phone number option)	Same-sex couples, heterosexual couples, single GLBTs, single straights, WE CAN ALL MAKE A MEMORABLE IMPACT.    Simple messages can be printed on the front.  Full letters can be printed on the back.   Send your Photo and message.  Jerry will print oversized copies and deliver to your legislators.
CLICK HERE to email Photos to Jerry Ringuette

Editorial Watch:

The table below will track all negative editorial letters in need of response.  We should try to gain 2 editorials in our favor for every 1 against. Local Media Write to the media closest to you Recent Opposition in need of your Response   Recent Support of Equality   State-Wide & Boston Boston Globe: Send Editorial   Make room for 'bias' in adoption Same-sex rights and bedtime rites Lexington and discord Re: the bedroom, it's none of your concern Citizenship policies and same-sex partners   State-Wide & Boston The Boston Herald: Send Editorial     South Shore MA The Patriot Ledger:  Send Editorial   NEW: Rev. Swanson’s courage Contact lawmakers on marriage proposal Quincy church banner an ‘in-your-face’ disgrace Church banner insulting Let the people vote on marriage amendment Pro-gay marriage crowd shows its hypocrisy Another attack on the Catholic Church READER’S VIEW: Catholic Charities READER'S VIEW: Gay rights winning at expense of children’s rights   NEW: Preserve same-sex marriage in state (Thanks Jim! )  (I got a word in too!) NEW: Gauging the ability of parents, gay or otherwise  (Thanks Laurie!) Church banner Anti-gay forces trying to desecrate our Constitution Religion in America Catholic hierarchy to blame in adoption issue Civil rights have grown since John Adams’ time (Thanks ED!)   Brockton/Taunton Area  The Enterprise: Send Editorial       Plymouth Area Old Colonial Memorial: Send an Editorial       Attleboro Area The Sun Chronicle:  Send an Editorial        Fall River Area The Herald News:  Send an Editorial        Taunton Area Taunton Gazette:  Send an Editorial       Carver Area MA Carver Reporter  Marion, Mattapoisett, Rochester, Areas The Sentinel Wareham Area Wareham Courier Send Editorials for above media to Editor: Tamson Burgess       Duxbury Reporter, Halifax Reporter, Marshfield Reporter, Pembroke Reporter  Send to Editor Scott Smith       Kingston Reporter  Send to Editor: Charles Mathewson Kingston Area MA

P-L-E-A-S-E participate!  MassEquality is looking for married couples who could come to State House on Wednesday, May 17th, the second anniversary of same-sex marriage. We are looking for couples from various regions of the state who could help us deliver anniversary items to legislators. The idea is we would prep regional press that a couple will be there from their area. Then we schedule with a local legislator a time where they will accept the flowers and be available for photo op and comment.  We are hoping by this to get stories in local papers about the anniversary that are positive, pictures of families, and by doing it in the state house we also get the angle of highlighting the next vote on July 12.  Couples would need to be available between 11:30 and 2pm in Boston. This is a big, last minute request, but if anyone knows a married couple who might be willing please let me know. We are on a timeline to find the couples by Monday. I appreciate any help or ideas Thanks for all you do,  Amy Mello  MassEquality.