Jerry's email update on the fight for Equal Rights (June 30, 2004)
  
 
 Less than 2 weeks until the Federal Marriage Amendment (FMA) vote!..
  
Please re-visit my HRC page and participate in the newly available actions. 

Hi Friends,

I wish all my friends a HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY!... 

Just a little over a week until the US Leaders vote on the Federal Marriage Amendment!  The GOP has moved the Vote to July in order to place pressure on Democratic Leaders at the DNC.

I've followed up with some of you on following the action items on my HRC page, I'll follow up with others too.  Please make sure that you follow the steps through to completion so that they are recognized on my status bar -- so far I have 45 out the 100 actions needed.  Please pass my HRC page on to as many people as you can asking them to participate; THIS CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE!

Notable items this week:

Federal appeals court denies attempt to block same-sex weddings 

BOSTON -- A federal appeals court has rejected an attempt by conservative groups and state lawmakers to block gay marriages, which began in Massachusetts in May. 

The Florida-based Liberty Counsel, which launched the lawsuit, immediately said it would file an appeal with the U.S. Supreme Court, continuing the groups' claim that the Massachusetts high court overstepped its bounds and violated the U.S. Constitution when it legalized gay marriage.

Read the FULL STORY
 

Mayors set aside opposing gay-marriage ban 

BOSTON -- A deeply divided gathering of the nation's mayors could not reach consensus Monday on a proposed resolution opposing a federal constitutional ban on gay marriage. 

The U.S. Conference of Mayors voted 46-44 to table the resolution, and an attempt to revive it was also defeated, 47-45..

Read the FULL STORY
 

The "Big 50" Celebration for the Honorable Marian Walsh, State Senator, Assistant Majority Leader & Supporter of Civil Marriage for all! 

BOSTON -- You are invited to join in the celebration of Stare Senator Marian Walsh's 50th Birthday!
 
Tuesday, July 13th, 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM, at Jimmy's Harborside: 242 Northern Avenue, Boston.  
 
Hosted by the Friends and Volunteers of The Walsh Committee.

To send a Birthday Greeting or to contribute to Senator Walsh's campaign, go online to http://www.marianwalsh.com.

MA law requires that all donors giving over $200 must provide their Name, Address, Employer and Occupation.  The maximum contribution is $500. Corporate Contributions are prohibited by law
 

Message From Cheryl A. Jacques, Human Rights Campaign President. 

Dear Friends of Jerry,

We have two weeks left to protect our rights and stop the anti-gay Federal Marriage Amendment from passing in the U.S. Senate. Right now, we are organizing as never before, with:

  • National and regional print and internet advertising;
  • Intense lobbying of key Senators;
  • Capitol Hill briefings with allied civil rights groups;
  • Concentrated phone call and e-mail campaigns;
  • ...and much more (I urge you to visit our web site to stay informed).

As I write, Human Rights Campaign staff - along with volunteers and activists like you - are working night and day. I want to ask you to do two things:

  1. Contact your Senators (and talk to your friends and family), if you haven't already.
  2. Make a special donation to support this costly fight that will have a huge impact on our lives in the years to come. Please, click here to give online today.

You and the other 560,000 HRC supporters have already made amazing efforts to stop this Constitutional amendment. Not surprisingly, our opponents are also bombarding Congress. U.S. Representative Marilyn Musgrave and fundamentalist preacher Jerry Falwell are just two of the ultra-conservatives flooding the airwaves, the mail, and the Internet with hurtful, discriminatory messages about gay and lesbian couples and families. See excerpts of their messages at right.

The truth is, fighting bigoted people like Musgrave and Falwell is not where I intended to spend your valued contributions this year. I'd rather continue working to ensure that we all have equal protections, not working to ensure the few rights we have aren't taken away. But the extremists behind the Federal Marriage Amendment have forced this fight on us...and we must win.

We can't do it without your activism. And we can't do it without your generous financial support. Please click here to make your special contribution right now to ensure we can stop the Federal Marriage Amendment.

Many thanks,

Cheryl A. Jacques
Human Rights Campaign President

P.S. Looking for even more ways to help? Here are two important actions you can take:

  • Write a letter to your local newspaper. It only takes a few minutes. We've created a page on our site with everything you need to know. Click here to write your letter.
  • Congress is in recess this week, June 28-July 5. Make personal contact with your Congress member - give them a call, find out their schedule, or even drop off your personal letter to them. All you need to do is to call your Senators' offices and ask to make an appointment or get their schedule. Click here to find the phone numbers to get started.

TAKE ACTION HERE

 
Please sign my HRC Federal  friends, if you haven't already.
There are new actions you can take to help me make my goal.
I only have 45 out 100 so far.
   
Contribute to the campaign of Paul Meoni   
He is challenging the My local representative who has consistently voted against my civil rights.

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


Previous updates from Jerry:

6/24/2004

6/17/2004

6/9/2004

5/27/2004

5/20/2004

5/13/2004

5/7/2004

4/30/2004

4/22/2004

4/13/2004

4/8/2004

4/1/2004

 

News Articles of Interest

Preserve Marriage Equality... 

 
 Gay-Marriage Ban Gets First Test at Polls
JEFFERSON CITY - Missourians will get the first shot in the nation at amending a state constitution to ban gay marriage, following a Massachusetts court ruling that allowed same-sex marriages.

Similar proposals to ban same-sex marriage by constitutional amendment are scheduled for the November ballot in Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, Oklahoma and Utah.

Missourians, however, will weigh in on the issue in the Aug. 3 primary.
Full Story 

 
Catholic bishops' leader backs constitutional ban on same-sex marriage
-- Church members urged to support it
The president of the US Conference of Catholic Bishops yesterday endorsed a proposed constitutional amendment that would ban gay marriage and urged all Roman Catholics to lobby for its passage.

The statement from Bishop Wilton Gregory was the first from the American church backing a specific amendment that would deny recognition of same-sex marriages.
Full Story
 
    

Marriage licenses a hit at gay pride celebration
SAN FRANCISCO -- The party still had its traditional leather-clad legions and dramatic drag queens, but yesterday's gay pride parade featured marchers even more radical -- married same-sex couples.
Full Story
 

Gay couple sues club for spouse privileges
SAN DIEGO -- B. Birgit Koebke golfs alone because no one at her country club will play with her. She hits the links late in the day to avoid running into hostile club members.
Full Story 

 

Peace activist to lead church --
New Presbyterian moderator backs gays in ministry
RICHMOND, Va. -- A peace activist who supports the inclusion of gays in the ministry was elected to lead the Presbyterian Church (USA) for the next two years.

The selection of Rick Ufford-Chase as moderator was made as the church prepares for a fresh round of debate at its annual convention about whether to repeal a ban on gay pastors.
Full Story 

MTV puts gay marriage in rotation
NEW YORK -- It is conceivable, if not likely, that two or three decades hence, the fuss over same-sex marriage will be as hard to fathom as Jim Crow laws are in the minds of college students today. Each generation has its own take on cutting-edge social and legal issues. Which is why an MTV documentary on two gay couples and their wedding plans, packaged for a national audience of 20-somethings, may have more long-term validity than anything Massachusetts pols have to say on the subject. And that's saying a lot-.
Full Story 

 

Gay marriage opponents petition for ban
SALEM, Ore. -- Opponents of same-sex marriage submitted a record-high number of signatures Wednesday to place a proposed constitutional amendment banning gay nuptials on the ballot.

The 244,587 signatures amassed by the Defense of Marriage Coalition -- more than twice the necessary amount -- was the highest number of signatures ever submitted for an initiative measure in Oregon's history.
Full Story 

...And Win Fabulous Prizes!
http://EqualMarriage.org/summer.php

This weekend is the best opportunity this summer to help spread the word and enlist new supporters!  Pick the action that works best for you:

Gather Signatures on the Esplanade in Boston on July 4th;

Or, at Other Staffed Summer Of Equality Events (in Concord, Hyannis, Marblehead, New Bedford, Salem, Springfield, and Worcester); or

Be Your Own Activist at Local Events or Parties (we  provide an activist kit--link below!).


Scroll down to sign up!

Prizes will be awarded to the top signature collectors in
the three above categories.
   
We even have talking points to help you explain the issue to your Aunt Millie or your cousin Jack!

We make it easy to enjoy your holiday weekend while helping to ensure the pursuit of happiness for same-sex couples.

Fourth of July Weekend Events

To sign up, simply email the contact person for an event, and they will be in touch with details.

Scroll to the bottom to link to the activist toolkit or for more detailed information about the amendment.

Boston
Date: Sunday, July 4, 2004
Event:  Boston Pops Concert and fireworks
Event Time: 7:00 PM
Volunteer Shift Time:  4:00-7:00 PM
Location: Esplanade, Boston
Contact Person: bostonsummer@EqualMarriage.org
or call Maggie at the Freedom to Marry Coalition, 617-482-1600.

Hyannis
Date: Friday, July 2, 2004
Event: 4th of July Fireworks
Event Time: 8:00 PM
Volunteer Shift Time: Coordinate with contact person (prior to fireworks)
Location: Veteran's Park Beach, Aselton Park (at South & Ocean Streets), Bismore Park (Ocean St.)
Contact Person: capesummer@EqualMarriage.org

New Bedford
Date: Saturday, July 3, 2004
Event Time: 11:00 AM-10:30 PM
Event: New Bedford Summer Fest
Volunteer Shift Time: Coordinate with contact person.
Location:  Whaling Historical Park and State Pier
Contact Person: southeastsummer@EqualMarriage.org


Worcester
Date: Friday, July 2, 2004   
Event: Fourth of July Celebration
Event time:  6:00-8:00 PM
Volunteer Shift Time:  5:15pm-7:15pm   
Location:  East Park on Shrewsbury St in Worcester
Contact Person:  worcester@summerofequality.org
For the activist toolkit, simply click here: http://EqualMarriage.org/summer_diy.php

  
If you did not sign up for the Summer of Equality and still wish to join the hundreds that have decided to be pro-active in protecting equal marriage rights this summer, please click here: http://EqualMarriage.org/summer.php