Friends,

Photos from the vigil: Click to enlarge

Thank you to everyone who came to my Quincy group's vigil for equality last week.  With over 100 in attendance, it was an amazing success!  It was covered by both the Patriot Ledger and Bay Windows publications.  Our local organization has grown to well over 200 people in just a few weeks time and plans to submit a FULL PAGE ad to run in the Patriot Ledger listing our member and Community Leaders.  THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT.  

NEXT UP for QuincyForMarriageEquality is to march in the Boston Pride parade.  WE NEED PEOPLE TO March, even if you are not from Quincy but support my effort, please join us!  Contact me directly if you think you can make it.   

Editorial ALERT:  We need people to reply to this recent, any-equality letter submitted to the Patriot Ledger.

READER’S VIEW: Voting is a constitutional right, as well..

WE NEED MULTIPLE RESPONSES SUBMITTED TO COUNTER THIS LETTER

I also have the opportunity to meet with Senator Morrissey and plan to meet with Quincy Representative Ayers who has recently said his office has NOT been receiving call from our side of this issue!  It is very important that as many people contact the Quincy Legislators as possible.  They can be THE legislators who will kill this amendment.  

Our opposition that they are putting everything they've got into building up the biggest State House attendance to day. They have busses from almost every town in the state (14 stops in my area of the state alone!) WE NEED A BIGGER TURNOUT THAN WE HAVE EVER HAD BEFORE!  PLEASE PLAN NOW TO TAKE JUNE 14TH OFF FROM WORK TO MAKE A STAND AT THE STATE HOUSE.  The earlier you can get there, the better,  Our opposition is planning as early as 6:30 in the AM..  

It is now more important than ever that you take action land then encourage other to as well, just like I am doing with you.

  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.  

  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 watching)

(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)

  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. 
   

  

A HISTORIC STRUGGLE’ - ESPOUSING EQUALITY: 
About 100 supporters of same-sex marriage hold vigil in Quincy
The advocacy organization Quincy for Marriage Equality held the one-hour vigil at the intersection of West Squantum Street and Huckins Avenue in hopes of influencing how Quincy legislators vote on the amendment question, said Jerry Ringuette, one of the vigil coordinators.

‘‘This is a notable turnout here in Quincy,’’ said Ringuette, who also spoke to the crowd about his almost three-year marriage to his spouse, Ed. ‘‘We are here for Quincy, but we are here for Massachusetts as well. Massachusetts cannot be the state to actually step backward.’’ (Read More)

Quincy rally for marriage equality draws 100 people
THINKS LEGISLATIVE VOTE ON MARRIAGE EQUALITY WILL HAPPEN BEFOREHAND 
When Sgt. Adrian Gunn joined the Army National Guard eight years ago, he swore an oath to uphold and defend the Massachusetts Constitution, a document that he notes was written “with the intent of safeguarding the rights of every individual American citizen.” Gunn, who also served eight years in the U.S. Army, said that that’s why he’d rather not return home from an upcoming deployment to the Middle East to find Massachusetts in the process of trying to amend its constitution to ban marriage equality. (Read More)
 

MA GOP Committee votes for motion directing Republican lawmakers to support marriage amendment
The Mass. Republican State Committee voted May 24 to instruct Party Chairman Peter Torkildsen to send a written request that Republican state legislators vote in favor of an anti-gay marriage amendment. Debate around the vote exposed a divide on the committee on the issue of civil marriage rights for same-sex couples . (Read More)
  

How to teach kids about queers debated on Beacon Hill
SEPARATE BILLS CALL FOR STATEWIDE COMPREHENSIVE HEALTH EDUCATION AND LETTING PARENTS DECIDE HOW AND WHAT THEIR CHILDREN LEARN 
A comprehensive youth health measure and parents-rights bill pitted pro-gay, straight-allied groups against anti-gay social and religious conservatives during a hearing of the joint House and Senate education committee on Tuesday, May 29. (Read More)
 

Political heavyweights battle over gay marriage amendment
U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has phoned Senate President Therese Murray and House Speaker Salvatore DiMasi about keeping the divisive issue of gay marriage off the Massachusetts ballot.

Meanwhile, powerful religious forces, such as Cardinal Sean P. O'Malley and Focus on the Family, the conservative nationwide Christian family group, have lent local anti-gay marriage groups aid in their effort to make sure the question does go before the voters. (Read More)

  
Contact your lawmakers! 
The legislature will take up an amendment to the state constitution sometime in the next few months that, if passed, will go before voters in 2008. If voters approve it, the amendment will prohibit lesbian and gay couples from marrying. Your state representative and state senator need to hear from you about this amendment. Click here to find out who your local lawmakers are. Scroll down to District Representatives and select “Senate in General Court” and “Rep in General Court.” You can e-mail directly from the resulting pages or use the contact info to call or write them. Do it right now, with the information before you!. (Read)   
  

  

 

THIS WEEK	LAST WEEK
PATRIOT LEDGER: IN NEED OF RESPONSE!!!! READER’S VIEW: Voting is a constitutional right, as well	THE BOSTON GLOBE: THANKS Jeff and Scott!!! Two can play at marriage amendment politics PATRIOT LEDGER: THANK YOU ED!!! SPEAK OUT - Same-sex marriage is a right, protect it

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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.