Jerry's updates on the fight for Equal Rights

Jerry's email update on the fight for Equal Rights (May 20, 2004)

WE CAN MARRY!!!
What an amazing week this has been:

GREAT NEWS: Gays couples are now legally married!

BAD NEWS: Our bigoted Governor is looking to use an antiquated law from 1913 (intended to outlaw bi-racial marriage) to nullify the marriages conducted for couples who reside outside of MA.

GOOD NEWS: NY and RI will honor MA marriages

MORE GOOD NEWS: The MA Senate has voted to repeal the 1913 Law.

SCARY NEWS: The effort to repeal the law has to make it through the more "right wing" House and then through Governor Romney.

MORE SCARY NEWS: Our opposition is now focused on November elections to take away our right.

Notable items this week:

Cathryn and Jerry each get editorials in this week's Patriot Ledger.

Check it out! Both Cathryn and I were able to get editorials printed in the Patriot Ledger this week. I know everyone is busy with their wedding plans :-), but we need MORE stories published!

Everyone should be trying to have something published in their local papers every 30 (or so) days. This is one of the primary ways we can educate and gain more acceptance. PLEASE TRY TO GET PUBLISHED! I'd like to share your published stories too.

READER'S VIEW: John Adams, religion and gay marriage
By CATHRYN B. BLACKWELL, Squantum

Is it just me, or do the folks opposed to gay marriage not seem too terribly concerned with the facts when making their case against equal rights?
See the full story online here

READER'S VIEW: Be wary of statements lacking credible sources
By JERRY RINGUETTE, Quincy

A recent letter that argued The Ledger favors leftist opinions couldn't be further from the truth. As a matter of fact, ‘‘the truth'' has suffered as a result of efforts to remain unbiased. Over the past few weeks several anti-gay letters have gone unanswered, leading readers to believe false facts. Readers should be wary of ‘‘facts'' that are not backed by named credible sources.
See the full story online here

WOW! I work for an AWESOME Company!
Friends, last Friday I attended a GLBT Leadership Seminar held by executives at IBM. I am so proud to work for this company! I just might march in this year's pride parade with other "IBMers"

IBM even offers special discounts and recruiting opportunities to the GLBT Community.

You can learn more at: www.ibm.com/ibm/glbt

State Senator Jarrett Barrios
and
Representative Liz Malia
Invite you to attend a reception honoring a true friend
of the GLBT Community:

State Senator Brian A Joyce
at the home of Tony Gale

Sunday, May 23, 2004
11:00 AM to 1:00 PM

Laconia Lofts - 1200 Washington Street
Unit 508 - Boston, MA

Light brunch will be served

Suggested donation $500, $250, $100

PLEASE Contribute to the campaign of Senator Brian Joyce... He has 3 people running against him (one is a BILLIONAIRE) because of his decision to stand up for us. http://www.brianajoyce.com/xcontribute.html

TAKE ACTION HERE

Please sign my HRC Federal petition and forward to friends, if you haven't already.
There are new actions you can take to help me make my goal.
I only have 39 out 100 so far.

Contribute to the campaign of Senator Brian Joyce.
He has 3 people running against him (one is a BILLIONAIRE) because of his decision to stand up for us.

Submit an editorial to your local paper every 35 days. It is important to publicly show support for gay marriage!
Helpful suggestions

News Articles of Interest

Upcoming Events

After three-day wait, dozens of gay couples exchange their vows
BOSTON -- The Rev. Kim Crawford Harvie had barely retreated down the aisle with her wife of five minutes when she donned her white robes and got back to work, helping to marry dozens of other gay couples during a full day of back-to-back weddings at the Arlington Street Church.
Full Story

Massachusetts Senate votes to repeal 1913 law that excludes out-of-state gay couples
BOSTON (AP) The Democrat-controlled state Senate voted overwhelmingly Wednesday to repeal the 1913 law that Republican Gov. Mitt Romney is using to bar out-of-state gay couples from marrying in Massachusetts.
Full Story By Jennifer Peter, Associated Press

AG: Governor preparing legal case regarding out-of-staters
BOSTON -- Attorney General Tom Reilly said Thursday that he expects Gov. Mitt Romney to refer a "handful" of cases to his office involving marriage applications issued this week to gay couples from outside Massachusetts.
Full Story

Legal focus of Massachusetts gay marriage debate shifts to nonresidents
BOSTON -- The Romney administration has demanded copies of all marriage applications issued to gay couples in Provincetown, Somerville, Springfield and Worcester -- four municipalities that openly defied the governor's residency requirement for same-sex marriages.
Full Story

Romney among key figures invited to nuptials -- but he won't attend
Now that gay marriage is a reality, so are invitations to same-sex weddings, which are landing on the doorsteps of some of the most prominent political and business figures in Massachusetts.
Full Story

Gay marriage solves, creates money issues
When friends asked Sharon Rich whether she and her partner planned to marry when Massachusetts allowed them to, Rich said, "I have to talk with my lawyer first."
Full Story

Showing us the power of marriage
... These couples want a license to join, not to destroy, marriage. Two by two, they are reminders of the importance of marriage as a passage, a public commitment and a support system. They are even reminders of the power of tradition...
Full Story

Thursday, May 20th

The Wedding Party
A Community Celebration of Equal Marriage Rights

Join us for a public celebration of the week's historic events. Sponsored by MassEquality, the Freedom to Marry Coalition, GLAD and the Religious Coalition for the Freedom to Marry, this fun-filled night will be one to remember.

7:00 PM - midnight : Colonnade Hotel : 120 Huntington Ave : Boston : $10.00 cover charge

Bells Will Ring: A Celebration of the Legalization of Same Sex Marriage First Parish Church in Dorchester, Unitarian-Universalist
Gay and lesbian couples who wish to have a church wedding in front of friends and family are invited to use the beautiful and historic First Parish sanctuary at no cost on Saturday, May 22nd, and the Rev. Victor Carpenter has also waived his customary fees. Please call in advance to schedule a visit and meeting with the minister at Boston's oldest church.
10 Parish St. (Meetinghouse Hill)
Dorchester
for further information e-mail Kirsten at weddings@firstparish.com

Sunday, May 23rd

South Shore Civil Marriage for All and South Shore Pride Request the honor of your presence at
A Celebration of Marriage for All
Marking the historic May 17, 2004 legalization of same-sex marriage
Sunday, the 23rd of May, 2004
1:00 – 5:00 pm
at the home of Mara & Maryellen Solomon-Auger
29 Mary's Lane
Scituate, Massachusetts
Lunch, wedding cake, music, comedian, guest speakers, and children’s activities. Please join this fun and important gathering of South Shore Civil Marriage for All, a MassEquality affiliate that is making a big difference throughout the South Shore (from Quincy to Plymouth)!
Suggested Minimum Donation: $25 per person or $50 per family.
In lieu of gifts, please make contributions to South Shore Civil Marriage for All.
Contributions support South Shore based efforts to fight the constitutional amendment and to protect Massachusetts' historic decision to grant civil marriage to same-sex couples.
Please RSVP: e-mail MarriagePartyRSVP@SouthShorePride.info or contact Judith, Event Coordinator, 781-545-9907.

If you are having a marriage-related event you'd like us to consider for our calendar, please send details to Calendar@MassEquality.org

https://secure.ga3.org/03/maymatch_de/no71kUFs1Sa9H

Dear JERRY,

Right-wing extremists increased the volume on their hate-filled rhetoric this week as same-sex couples began marrying in Massachusetts. Leading the charge? None other than President Bush, who said:

"The sacred institution of marriage should not be redefined by a few activist judges...I called on the Congress to pass an amendment to our Constitution defining and protecting marriage as a union of a man and a woman as husband and wife. The need for that amendment is still urgent, and I repeat that call today."

The good news is that we're standing up to Bush and the ultra-conservatives who want ban gay marriage. Leading our charge? HRC Board Member Bruce Bastian of Salt Lake City, Utah. As you may already know, he has put up his own money - a quarter of a million - to fight our opponent's deep pockets. And he'd like your help.

Here's the deal: Bruce will match every dollar you give up to $250,000. You give $50, he adds $50 more. You give $100, he adds $100 more. Give $1,000 and again it's doubled. It's that easy to double your impact! Click here to double your gift.

Between your donations and Bruce's gift, we'll raise $500,000 to buy TV and newspaper advertisements, put organizers in the field in key states, and block all efforts to enshrine anti-gay laws in the Constitution.

We're almost there! Generous people like you have already given over $160,000. Please help us reach the full $250,000 so we can take full advantage of this opportunity to let President Bush and his right-wing allies know that we will not back down from this fight. Click here.

Thank you so much for your support. We are winning over the American people and we are going to win this issue.

Many thanks,

Cheryl A. Jacques
Human Rights Campaign President

P.S. You must make your donation before May 31st to take advantage of Bruce Bastian's match. Please don't wait!

© 2004 The Human Rights Campaign. All rights reserved.

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