Jerry's email update on the fight for Equal Rights (July 8, 2004)
  
 
 Countdown to the Federal Marriage Amendment (FMA) vote... (less than)1 week!
  
Contact your State Reps and Senators NOW by re-visiting my HRC page. 

Hi Friends,

Next week,  our US leaders will vote on the Federal Marriage Amendment to define all marriages in the US as being between one man and one woman ONLY.  It even effect civil unions as well.  This amendment to the US Constitution would overwrite all individual state laws, that currently protect committed couples of the same gender. 

WE NEED TO BOMBARD WASHINGTON THIS WEEK!
ITS OUR LAST CHANCE!
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:

Court Date Set In Mass. Out-Of-State Weddings Case 

(Boston, Massachusetts) Thirteen Massachusetts town clerks will square off against Attorney General Thomas Reilly in a Boston courtroom next Tuesday in a battle to allow out-of-state same-sex couples wed.  
 
The clerks say barring out-of-state same-sex couples is discriminatory and a violation of the commonwealth's Constitution.

Read the FULL STORY
 

Please Join us July 21, 2004
6:00PM -9:00 PM

Cocktail Reception for Democratic Candidate, Paul Meoni 

at the home of Paul Melanson & Paul Twitchell
150 Brook Road, Milton MA 02186

Dear friends,

My name is Paul Meoni; I am running as a Democratic candidate for State Representative of the 1st Norfolk District (Randolph/Quincy) and will be counting on your support to defeat incumbent Bruce Ayers this fall.
 
Bruce Ayers consistently voted in favor of the amendment to ban same sex marriage, affirming that he does not support equal rights for all.  Ayers even opposed the compromise bills that offered Civil Unions for same sex couples.  The people of the 1st Norfolk district and indeed the commonwealth of Massachusetts deserve better representation.  Once elected, I promise to fight any amendment that would write discrimination into our constitution.
 
I also promise to defend a women's right to choose, fight for new jobs and support our schools
 
Please join me on Wed. July 21, 2004 as I kickoff my fundraising efforts with a cocktail reception at 150 Brook Road in Milton

I ask or a personal contribution of $50 to $500.00 ($500.00 maximum per individual) payable to the Paul J. Meoni committee.  If this amount exceeds your budget, you may contribute in any amount.  Please send RSVPs/contributions by July 14th.

Thank you for your support and I hope to see you on the 21st.
 
Sincerely,

Paul J. Meoni
 
For more information on Paul Meoni (the candidate running against my bigoted representative) please visit http://www.electmeoni.com

 

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
 

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:

6/30/2004

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

Upcoming Events 

 
 Connecticut couple fights to keep their same-sex marriage legal
MERIDEN, Conn. (AP) Among the first things the Gossmans happily changed after their May wedding in Massachusetts was Kristin's last name, and now they're just waiting for her new driver's license to make it official.
Full Story 

 
No Gay-Union Outcry, Senators Say
Despite an intense lobbying effort last week by advocates of a constitutional ban on gay marriage, several senators locked in close reelection contests say they have yet to feel pressure from constituents to support the amendment.

Minority Leader Tom Daschle (D-S.D.) - one of 24 "high priority" senators targeted for a pressure campaign by a coalition of conservative groups - spent the July 4 weekend campaigning across South Dakota.
Full Story
 
    

READER'S VIEW: Governor Mitt Romney's stand on gay marriage
By JAMES P. COADY-HAHN, Quincy
 In a time with much more important issues, like the horrific killing of American civilians in Saudi Arabia, the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, increased terror alerts, the economy and even the upcoming traffic chaos predicted for the Democratic National Convention, Governor Mitt Romney goes to Washington to vilify gay marriage. Apparently the recent marriage of my husband and myself has somehow adulterated so-called ‘‘traditional marriage.'
Full Story
 
 

ACLU files for right of gays to marry in Baltimore, four Maryland counties
BALTIMORE -- The American Civil Liberties Union on Wednesday sued the city of Baltimore and four Maryland counties for the right of same-sex couples to marry.
Full Story 

 

Gay groups to employers: don't ditch DP benefit -- Rolling back coverage is premature, say advocates 
Major GLBT rights organizations have joined with the Alternatives to Marriage Project to ask Massachusetts employers not to rescind their domestic partner (DP) benefits programs in response to the legalization of same-sex marriage in the Bay State.
Full Story 

Domestic Partners Awaiting Their Day
NEW JERSEY -- A new domestic partnership law making New Jersey the fifth state in the nation to give gay couples many rights accorded married people takes effect Saturday.  In South Orange, officials will begin registering couples as soon as they can – a minute after midnight..
Full Story 

 

Congressman Nadler Proposes Gay Social Security Benefits
Congressman Jerrold Nadler (D-New York City) introduced legislation last week that would amend the Federal Social Security Act to allow same-sex couples to have the same benefits as married couples who pay into Social Security.
Full Story 

Please join MassEquality to learn about volunteering to support pro-equality candidates for the legislature and about other steps you can take to help preserve equal marriage rights for same-sex couples. Come to one of two gatherings to kick-off Summer of Equality on the Cape

Thursday, July 8
6:30 PM - 9:00 PM
Harwich Community Center
100 Oak Street
Harwich, MA 02645
view directions.