The vigil set for next Wed., 1/10/07 at 6:30 PM on the Common (nr Tremont and Boylston) takes on new urgency with the first-round approval of a constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriage. Despite expectations that the amendment would meet a procedural death, Senate President Robert Travaglini forced an immediate vote on the petition without allowing debate. The amendment received 61 votes, more than the 50 required to advance. After the legislature voted to reconsider the Senate President simply put the amendment to a second vote again without debate.
The vigil was called by the Gay and Lesbian Anti-Violence Project and the Religious Coalition for the Freedom to Marry, in response to an assault and battery on a pro-equality demonstrator by the Executive Director of “Catholic Citizenship” in Worcester on December 16, 2006. “My concern is that we’re going to see increased levels of anti-GLBT hate crimes the longer this poisonous debate lasts,” warned Don Gorton, Chair of the Gay and Lesbian Anti-Violence Project. “Statistical data show a correlation between campaigns against gay marriage and violence based on sexual orientation bias.”
The vigil will make a call on marriage equality opponents to tone down their rhetoric lest the violence on display in Worcester becomes still more widespread. Gorton commented further: “It sends a very bad signal when a leading advocate of banning same-sex marriage himself perpetuates violence. With our opponents carrying on their crusade for the foreseeable future, they have a responsibility to actively work against the anti-gay violence that is the corollary of what they are doing.” A dialogue to stop the hate and promote peace will be the goal of the vigil.
These are the details of the Vigil:
A Candlelight Vigil
Wednesday, January 10, 2007
6:30 PM, On the Boston Common
At the Corner of Tremont and Boylston
