Jerry's Weekly Update on the Fight for Marriage Equality
Full Edition Available at: http://home.comcast.net/~SSCIVILRIGHTS/newsletter.htm

July 23rd, Edition 

Time to get planning/making our next moves to protect marriage equality.
We still have an uphill battle ahead, but VICTORY IS POSSIBLE W/ EVERYONE'S HELP.

Hi friends, 

Earlier last week I sent out an invite for a BBQ here at my house to take a moment for ourselves to meet and have fun.  I'm still having the get together but as expected, there are a lot of summer commitments preventing many from coming. I'm psyched to see those who CAN make it.  I may have another get-together on Ed's and my second wedding anniversary (Aug 25th).

You're invited to Jerry's BBQ w/Friends
Sunday, July 30, 2:30 PM
9 McDonald Street, Quincy MA

Now back to business:  As I mentioned last week, there is no time to rest, we need to assess who is on our side and THANK THEM... On our lobbying day, July 11th, I had the privilege of meeting Representative Mary Grant from Beverly MA who said our opposition is louder than we are in the editorial sections of local papers on the North Shore... that those defending us need public displays of support.  If you know anyone in the Beverly area, please send them that message.  We all should be utilizing this tool of communication in our own local areas.

We also need to determine who has not taken a stand and try to determine if they can be swayed.  We need to find out who will never vote in our favor and support their political challengers. I will focus the next four months on communicating updates on these and any other efforts in progress on BOTH SIDES.  

It looks as though we all need to take a look at our local areas and come up with our own plans to get our stories and gain the votes of our legislators, as it appears that our current supports are not in agreement on how we should proceed.  I personally feel that we should be placing a LOT of focus on elections right now.  We need to support those protecting our rights and actively join the forces of those looking to unseat our opponents.  WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO GAIN SEVERAL VOTES IN OUR FAVOR THROUGH NOVEMBER ELECTIONS.

TAKE ACTION NOW!!!
NEWSPAPER "LETTERS TO THE EDITOR" 
In the cases where friends do not have the time, WE (either myself or other volunteers from my distribution list) 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. 

CLICK HERE FOR MORE ACTIONS RECOMMENDED BY MASSEQUALITY  

 

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
 

 NEW:  SJC treads carefully (both opinions)

Lessons to take from rulings on gay marriage (both opinions)

Nays, yeas over a gay-marriage vote (both opinions)

Considering the ex-gay movement (both opinions)

 Clash over gay marriage

  He won't be intimidated by website

A civil debate on gay marriage - The Boston Globe

Make room for 'bias' in adoption

Same-sex rights and bedtime rites

 NEW:  SJC treads carefully (both opinions)

Some marriages she'd like to put to a vote

Lessons to take from rulings on gay marriage (both opinions)

GLOBE EDITORIAL: Vote the ban down

 Nays, yeas over a gay-marriage vote (both opinions)

 Considering the ex-gay movement (both opinions)

  Clash over gay marriage

  Gay-marriage foe goes public 

Gay marriage, so what?

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
 		   NEW:  Gay-marriage ban restricts liberty 
South Shore MA
The Patriot Ledger: 
Send Editorial
 		 READERS’ OPINIONS: The right to vote and the right to marry (1 for us 2 against)

 Allow citizens to vote on marriage amendment

Let the people vote on gay marriage

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

 

 READERS’ OPINIONS: The right to vote and the right to marry (both opinions)

Rights of minorities (THANKS JOE!)

Same-sex marriage a civil, not religious, issue

What it means to be married, a mom and gay

We needs to defend, not amend the constitution

Civil marriage is a legal matter, not a sacred one

Preserve same-sex marriage in state (Thanks Jim! )
 (I got a word in too!)

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
  		 THIS NEEDS A RESPONSE!:
 NEW:  LETTER: Please enlighten me on why gay marriage is legal		 NEW:  LETTER: Happiness, oil prices and the war in Iraq 

NEW:  LETTER: Webster's, constitution have already done job 

NEW:  LETTER: Exclude no one from wonderful blessing 

LETTER: Stand up to opponents of gay marriage rights (Thanks JOE!)
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

    
     

 

LOCAL MA HEADLINES:

Gaining time: Delayed vote may give gay rights supporters an edge 
New Bedford Standard-Time, David Kibbe
By putting off a vote on a proposed constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriage until two days after the November election, the Legislature handed a huge victory to gay rights supporters.

Julie and Hillary Goodridge, lead plaintiffs in Mass. marriage lawsuit, have separated 
Bay Windows, Susan Ryan-Vollmar
Julie and Hillary Goodridge, the lead plaintiff couple in the 2003 lawsuit that brought same-sex marriage rights to Massachusetts, told Bay Windows through a spokeswoman this week that they have "amicably separated."

Recipe for disaster? 
Bay Windows, Ethan Jacobs and Laura Kiritsy
In the aftermath of the July 12 constitutional convention, the coalition of lawmakers and advocates working to protect marriage equality is split on how to defeat a constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage

Jul 20, 2006 Inside the ConCon, recess buys time 
Jul 20, 2006 Inside the ConCon, recess buys time
In Newsweekly, Chuck Colbert
Constitutional Convention to consider gay marriage vote Nov. 9; Gay marriage proponents breath sigh of relief with 4 months to lobby, organize and politick

Battle Lines outside the ConCon 
In Newsweekly, Thomas Kilduff
The most recent constitutional convention had battle lines drawn like never before. Beacon Street in fact served as the divider between marriage traditionalists in Boston Common and equal marriage supporters on the sidewalk of the state's golden dome.

Romney abolishes commission on gay and lesbian youth 
EdgeBoston.com
Gov. Mitt Romney issued an executive order Friday abolishing the state’s 14-year-old governor’s commission on gay and lesbian youth after lawmakers overrode his veto of a bill creating a new commission out of the reach of the governor’s office.


  
OTHER NATION/WORLD-WIDE STORIES AT:

  
Previous issues are also listed on the online copy of this Newsletter (click to view)

7/16/2006: Slight victory at State House means 4 more months to gain the support we need.

7/8/2006: HERE WE GO - I HOPE YOU HAVE SCHEDULED TIME OFF FROM WORK TO JOIN ME AT THE STATE HOUSE, THIS COMING WEDNESDAY!

6/30/2006: Now is the time to schedule your July 17th vacation day to support civil rights at the MA State House!.

6/24/2006: Friends may have swayed another vote in our favor.

6/17/2006: Macy's CEO apologizes as an anti-gay radio campaign is launched in MA.

6/12/2006: Anti-gay group wins PR success by stealing positive attention away from Gay-Pride. - AND US Senate strikes down FEDERAL marriage amendment.

6/3/2006: Senate to vote on Federal "Marriage Protection" amendment, promoted by Bush!.

5/27/2006: Pro-Rights Complacency remains a serious problem in MA.

5/21/2006: Procedural options in our favor publicized.

5/13/2006: 2006 Con-con delayed to July 12.

5/6/2006: SJC hears amendment case.

4/29/2006: ANOTHER marriage ambush in Quincy.

4/22/2006: May 10th nearly here, another forum scheduled in Quincy.

4/14/2006: Testimonies Heard at Legislative hearing.

4/7/2006: Legislative hearing  to address the petitioned marriage amendment has just been announced!.

3/30/2006: STEP UP AND TAKE ACTION-TIME IS RUNNING OUT TO DEFEAT THE MA MARRIAGE AMENDMENT.

3/26/2006: Quincy, HRC Marriage Forum FIASCO.

3/18/2006: Please take action at this critical time. 3 easy steps to make a BIG difference.

3/9/2006: NEW FORMAT TO JERRY's NEWSLETTER - FOCUS ON MA ATTACKS.

3/2/2006: Criminal Probe Into Alleged Anti-Gay MA Amendment Forgeries

2/23/2006: "Church of the Presidents" wants to unfurl huge pro-gay marriage banner

2/16/2006: New nationwide amendment to US Constitution introduced

2/9/2006: President Bush Grants Millions Of US Tax Dollars To Anti-Gay, Religious Initiatives 

2/2/2006: Heroic, Coretta Scott King dies 

1/27/2006: MassEquality uncovers over 2000 cases of petition fraud 
(including the names a a prominent civil rights lawyer and local NBC Sportscaster)

1/20/2006: 2006 Election Preview: New England focuses on gay marriage.

1/12/2006: MA Marriage Opponents Propose Limited Partner Benefits In Order To Strengthen Marriage Ban.

 

1/5/2006: GLAD Files Suit Asserting MA Anti-Marriage Ballot Question Is Unconstitutional.

12/29/2005: Bitter Battle Predicted Overt Mass. Anti-Gay Amendment.

12/22/2005: HELP IDENTIFY FRAUDULENT SIGNATURES.

12/15/2005: ROLLBACK OF MARRIAGE RIGHTS IS NOW POSSIBLE IN MA.

12/1/2005: South Africa Legalizes Gay Marriage & Canada's Government Toppled.

11/17/2005: As Our biggest MA Democrat Opponent Steps Down, The Republican Party Steps Up Attack..

11/10/2005: Mixed Elections Results are encouraging

11/3/2005: Mass. Moves To Halt Fraud In Anti-Gay Measure!

10/19/2005: Supporters, foes of gay marriage in MA trade dirty tricks charges!

10/14/2005: Petition gatherers & clergy gather 25,000 signatures in just one weekend!!

10/7/2005: Petition gatherers & clergy gather 25,000 signatures in just one weekend!!

9/29/2005: Bishops of MA push their congregations to sign the Citizen's Petition to roll-back civil rights!

9/23/2005: MA BIGOTED PETITION BEGINS!

9/15/2005: WE WON!  MA Marriage Amendment DEFEATED!

9/8/2005: A Week of hope then DEVASTATION

9/1/2005: Mass GOP Gov. Romney Pressures Dem. AG To Certify Anti-Gay Petition Driven

8/25/2005: JERRY'S 1st YEAR ANNIVERSARY & MA plans second vote on marriage ban

8/19/2005: MA State Rep Changes vote on Marriage Amendment to "NO"

8/11/2005: U.S. poll: 
Support grows for gay marriage

8/4/2005: HELP! Equality Is Under Major Attack!

7/28/2005: TIME TO START GETTING ACTIVE AGAIN!

7/21/2005: CANADA MAKES IT OFFICIAL!

7/14/2005: CA STATE SENATE REVIVES MARRIAGE BILL!

7/7/2005: Oregon Senate Passes Civil Union Bill!

6/30/2005: Spain and Canada both Legalize same-sex marriage!

 

6/23/2005: California gay marriage bill may return soon

6/16/2005: Romney to Back a New More Extreme Plan to Ban Gay Marriage

6/9/2005: Civil Unions Bill Heads to Senate

6/2/2005: California Bill to Legalize Gay Marriage Dies

5/26/2005: SJC Justice Marshal defends courts

5/19/2005: 1 FULL YEAR OF SAME-SEX MARRIAGE & NO APOCALYPSE!

5/12/2005: John Kerry speaks out against equality!

5/5/2005: ANOTHER COURT CHALLENGE AGAINST MA MARRIAGE.

4/28/2005: CA Gay Marriage Bill Clears One Hurdle.

4/21/2005: CT Signs Civil Unions into Law.

4/14/2005: 3,000 MARRIAGES TAKEN AWAY.

4/7/2005: KS state votes for total discrimination.

3/31/2005: Maine House passes gay rights bill.

3/24/2005: New national Marriage amendment returns to U.S. House.

3/17/2005: California judge rejects same-sex marriage law.

3/10/2005: Joe Solmonese Named Human Rights Campaign President.

3/3/2005: MA Gov. Romney Attacks Gay Families, Angers Parents.

2/24/2005: The Pope calls gay marriage 'evil'.

2/17/2005: MA to delay 2005 gay marriage vote.

2/10/2005: Three more states finalize amendments

2/3/2005: "I support a constitutional amendment to protect the institution of marriage."- George W Bush

1/27/2005: FEDERAL MARRIAGE AMENDMENT PROPOSAL IS BACK

1/20/2005: White House Again Backs Amendment on Marriage

1/13/2005: Gay Marriage Tops Vatican’s 2005 Agenda

1/6/2005: 2005 kicks off civil rights granted & refused

12/23/2004: "equal" rights in CA begins January 1st

12/16/2004: Marriage reversal case begins in OR

12/9/2004: Canada & New Zealand grant marriage & union rights

12/2/2004: Supreme Court Declines Ma Gay Marriage Case

11/26/2004: ACLU Drops Marriage Case

11/18/2004: SS Marriage Ruling 1yr Later

11/11/2004: No marriage Backlash in Ma

11/4/2004: Dealing with the bad news!

10/28/2004: Last chance to spread the word...VOTE!

10/21/2004: Ohio's anti-gay "Issue 1" campaign gets ugly.

10//142004: La. marriage ban goes to state high court.

10//72004: LA Amendment is THROWN OUT.

9/30/2004: BUB-BYE Bigoted MA House Speaker.

9/23/2004: L.A. VOTES TOTAL DISCRIMINATION

9/16/2004: Primary elections victories for pro- equality candidates, but not for Jerry's.

9/9/2004: House is back in session, to debate marriage again!

9/2/2004: Tell Bush "YOU'RE FIRED"

8/26/2004: JERRY IS MARRIED!!!

8/19/2004: MA Supreme Court Judge rules in favor of discriminatory law!

8/12/2004: California High Court Voids Same-Sex Marriages!

8/05/2004: ANOTHER MAJOR SETBACK & ANOTHER SMALL WIN.

7/29/2004: MAJOR SETBACK!
Discriminatory Marriage Protection Act Passed by a Vote of 233 to 194

7/21/2004: GOP HAS MOVED THE MARRIAGE DEBATE TO THE HOUSE AND EXPECTS TO WIN

7/15/2004: The US SENATE SHOOTS DOWN THE FEDERAL MARRIAGE AMENDMENT!    But,..

7/08/2004: Court Date Set In Mass. Out-Of-State Weddings Case

6/30/2004: Federal appeals court denies attempt to block same-sex weddings 

6/24/2004: Romney urges federal ban on gay-marriage 'experiment'

6/17/2004: Gay marriage opponents gear up for fall.

6/9/2004: Tell Mitt Romney To Stop His Anti-Gay Crusade.

5/27/2004: Governor Romney is BOOed at Suffolk Commencement Ceremony!

5/20/2004: WE CAN MARRY!!!

5/13/2004: Judge refuses to stop gay marriages!!!

5/7/2004: Boston may ignore governor's directive on gay marriage

4/30/2004: Governor Aims to Limit Marriage to Mass. Residents, GLAD Offers Perspective

4/22/2004: I'm featured in today's paper  :-) HORRIBLE PICTURE!

4/13/2004: LETTER FROM QUINCY'S HERO: REP RONALD MARIANO

4/8/2004: Quincy's Rep Mariano Changes Vote to Support Civil Rights!

4/1/2004: CIVIL RIGHTS SETBACK IN MA