Jerry's email update on the fight for Equal Rights (September 9, 2004)
  

House is back in session, to debate marriage again!
 
ALSO: The Democratic Primary is next week; Our heroes need your support.

 ALSO: Second WA Judge rules in favor of same sex marriage.

Friends,

In MA, its time to support our heroic legislators, as the September primary is less than a week away. PLEASE VOTE on September 14th for the legislators running to support our civil rights. 

Click here to see Primary Race Endorsements.

 I'll be out holding signs and canvassing for Paul Meoni, the gentleman that is running against my current (bigot) representative. Anyone want to join me?...
 

www.electmeoni.com

Notable items this week:

Congress Returns To Gay Marriage Amendment 
WASHINGTON: Congress returns today from its August break with the House set to take up the proposed Federal Marriage Amendment, among other bills and measures, before the November election.

The proposed amendment to the US Constitution would ban same-sex marriages. A similar measure failed in the Senate in July after Democrats opposed it and Republicans could not agree on whether it should also ban civil unions.

The House version was authored by Rep. Marilyn Musgrave (R-Colo.) and has 107 Republican sponsors along with six Democrats.

Before adjourning for the summer break the House passed the Marriage Protection Act which ties the hands of federal judges from ordering states to recognize gay marriages sanctioned by other states. (story) The legislation faces long odds in the closely divided Senate and gay rights advocates have vowed a fight.
READ THE FULL STORY
 

 
Second judge strikes down Washington's gay-marriage ban; cases head to state Supreme Court
OLYMPIA, Wash. -- Saying the state constitution broadly guarantees equality, a judge struck down Washington's ban on same-sex marriage and set the stage for an appeal to the state Supreme Court.

Thurston County Superior Court Judge Richard Hicks said the guarantees of equality are violated by the state's 1998 Defense of Marriage Act, which defines marriage as the union of a man and a woman and bars same-sex civil marriage
FULL STORY
 

 
Gay marriage lobbying group begins doling out contributions to candidate
BOSTON -- A lobbying group that supports gay marriage has started making campaign contributions to candidates in tight races for state office in an effort to tip the legislative balance against a proposed amendment to the state constitution banning same-sex marriage.
FULL STORY
 

TELL GEORGE BUSH HE IS FIRED!
And help Jerry to exceed his HRC take action commitments too! 

Please go back to my HRC Action page and check out the new (3rd) option to sign the petition to FIRE GEORGE W BUSH.


   
    

 

 

TAKE ACTION HERE

 
Please revisit my HRC, take action page. CHECK IN REGULARLY as HRC is always adding new action items.
I have met my goal for 100 actions, but strive for continued support.
   
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

Dontamend.com

Dearmary.com
 



Previous updates:

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

News Articles of Interest

Upcoming Events 

 
Gay GOP group refuses to endorse Bush
Ending months of speculation, the Log Cabin Republicans officially withheld endorsement of George W. Bush for president in an overwhelming vote Tuesday that marks the first time in its 11-year history the GLBT political group has not endorsed the Republican nominee for president.
Full Story 

Pope, Canada clash on same-sex marriage
The pope spoke forcefully against same-sex marriages last weekend, telling the Canadian ambassador to the Vatican about his opposition to growing acceptance of the practice in Canada. The country responded Tuesday with a gentle reminder that Parliament has the authority over the matter.
Full Story 
  

Anglican commission meets over gay issues
The commission, organized by the Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams, was sparked by the ongoing conflict between modernizers within the church and hard-line evangelicals, after some branches of the Anglican Communion began ordaining gay priests and offering formal blessings to same-sex relationships.
FULL STORY

Donate For Equality: The Freedom to Marry PAC supports Equality Candidates.

The goal of the of the Freedom To Marry Political Action Committee (PAC) is to support candidates who support equal marriage rights for same-sex couples.

Mitt Romney wants an amendment that outlaws same-sex marriage. He has targeted several incumbents that voted against that amendment.
His party has raised over $600,000. He'd like to pack the State House with legislators that agree with him.

To defeat the amendment we must elect candidates who will vote against it at the next Constitutional Convention. Money matters in campaigns. In Massachusetts, the candidate who spends the most money almost always wins. Money pays for mailings, yard signs, polls, bumper stickers, radio advertisements, and staff.

Please donate to the Freedom to Marry PAC now to help elect
candidates that support same-sex marriage:
http://FreedomToMarryPAC.org/donate.php
Every bit helps.


Summer of Equality
MassEquality is working with the Freedom to Marry Coalition of Massachusetts to provide you and thousands of other MassEquality members with  meaningful opportunities to make a difference in our campaign.  We have volunteer opportunities around the state -- opportunities to identify supporters of same-sex marriage at public events or by going door-to-door.  In addition, we are working to connect our members with electoral campaigns where the outcome could make a difference for us.

Check out the Summer of Equality calendar and sign up today by visiting www.MassEquality.org/soe_doc/index.php



Help us change the face of the legislature by helping to Elect Paul Meoni
to the First Norfolk State Representatives seat by defeating Bruce Ayers at the
Democratic Primary on Tuesday, September 14th.

 

We need your help to elect a candidate that will
not write discrimination into our State Constitution!!

 

Paul Meoni is the candidate!

 

A long-time gay activist, community leader and teacher, Paul Meoni knows there are more important issues to unite us: education and the state budget. Help get Paul Meoni elected as the Democratic candidate for the Quincy/Randolph district on September 14th!  Winning the primary will likely ensure Paul’s win in November and send a loud message to the state house. We need your help! Act now and support Paul. Less than a week until the primary election we need your help now!

 

Paul needs our help in the following ways:

 Phone Bank:

     Thursday to Saturday between 4 and 9 pm (2 hrs per person or what ever time you can spare) September 12, 13, and 14 we will need to have callers in the office all day. We have five phone lines,  but bring your own cell phone just in case.

 

 

§         Volunteers for the Primary: Any part of the day Tuesday Sept. 14th.- We are asking People to take the day off.

        We need 50-70 volunteers on September 14 to staff the polling centers, and make get out the phone calls.

 

§         Campaign Contributions:   www.electmeoni.com  or

Paul Meoni Committee, 16 Pine Road, Randolph, MA 02368

 

Copy and paste this email and then send it out to ten of your friends right now! Thank You!

 

 

For more information and further details,

please contact:

Alonzo Portlock at 781-961-3535 or email Lonnie1982@yahoo.com or Tom Kidd at 781-986-5588  takidd@comcast.net