Dear BMG-
This diary comes directly from my original post about organizing to lean on anti-equity legislators. That post was made as a response to Kira’s diary “Next steps for marriage equity”
Dear Charlie on the T and others around MA (6.00 / 3)
Let’s network through Patrick campaign contacts, progressive dems, etc. within the districts of the 62 anti-equity reps. Then, call, write, e-mail,visit these guys, get your friends and family to do it also, and try to convince them either to abstain from voting in the next ConCon round, or to switch their vote.
I live in Malden. In the fall and last week, I carried my little home-made sign that says,”I’m straight, I’m happily married, and I support marriage for all–the happiness of others enhances mine.”
My representatives, Sen. Tisei aned Rep. Fallon, both voted to squash the anti-equity amendment. However, Sen. Donato, who has constituents through part of Malden and Medford and elsewhere (?) voted to pass the damned thing forward.
I am linking with Medford’s Patrick people and hope to find Malden folks also, to push on Donato to convince him at least to abstain. My understanding is that Donato had indicated to a fellow legislator that he would support marriage equity, but then did not. Donato apparently is following two things, that he thinks his constituents are anti-gay marriage, and that he himself thinks gay marriage is wrong because of his own religious beliefs. Switching Donato to a pro-equity vote is less likely than switching him to an abstention. When I called Donato’s office after the vote, the staffer’s comments and rigidity lead me to suspect that abstention is the best we could get. But that would be enough.
We should emphasize the influx of out-of-state money for anti-democratic and anti-Democratic campaigns that will accompany the anti-equity amendment if it reaches a general election ballot. This puts all Democratic positions throughout the state, into a more perilous position, as well as occupying MA people who might otherwise be able to help in other states.
For the 62 anti-marriage members, do we have BlueMassGroup members in their districts–or at least for 6-9 of them? We only need to get the number of anti-marriage votes below 50. With change from the Nov. elections, we gained about 5 pro-marriage votes, so that the 62 should go to 57 or so. Soooo..can we work to get some abstentions, some switches?
Please, if you are interested in particular in working in Medford on Donato, e-mail to me off-group. I have several names of people who are planning to go work on
Donato.
“May I see your papers please”
by: baba bumazhka @ Tue Jan 09, 2007 at 23:55:05 PM EST
I will repeat my earlier sentiments, that this is great. There is no time to relax and not put pressure on the legislators, since Travaligni can call the next concon at any time, but by mid May at the latest. So, pile on everyone!!
<
p>
a suggestion to baba – edit out from above the responses to your original post. Makes your diary difficult to read and doesn’t add any value.
<
p>
thanks baba!
MassEquality
<
p>
Please Read, Take Action and Forward
Dear —,
<
p>
In the three years since marriage equality became the law of the land, we have together talked to hundreds of thousands of Massachusetts residents about equal marriage rights and increased the number of pro-equality legislators from just a few dozen to more than 140 today. Despite these gains, a minority of legislators voted last week to advance a constitutional amendment to turn back the clock on equality and ban same-sex marriage.
<
p>
Now, we must rededicate ourselves to the hard work ahead.
<
p>
That’s why I’m hitting the road to meet with you. I hope you will join me at one of the forums we’ve scheduled around the state to discuss strategies and next steps to protect marriage equality. These forums are a great opportunity for you, your family members and friends to meet with other supporters of equality in your area and have some back-and-forth to address your questions, concerns and ideas for moving forward.
<
p>
We need your help building a statewide movement that will defeat this discriminatory constitutional amendment once and for all. Please join us for one of the following forums:
<
p>
Worcester
Tuesday, January 16th
7 pm
Sign up: [http://www.MassEqual…]
<
p>
Boston
Wednesday, January 17th
6:30 pm
Sign up: [http://www.MassEqual…]
<
p>
Springfield
Thursday, January 18th
6 pm
Sign up: [http://www.MassEqual…]
<
p>
Northhampton
Thursday, January 18th
8 pm
Sign up: [http://www.MassEqual…]
<
p>
Merrimack Valley – North Andover
Monday, January 22nd
7 pm
Sign up: [http://www.MassEqual…]
<
p>
Metro West – Arlington
Tuesday, January 23rd
7 pm
Sign up: [http://www.MassEqual…]
<
p>
South Shore – Hingham
Monday, January 22nd
7pm
Sign up: [http://www.MassEqual…]
<
p>
Lowell
Thursday, January 25th
7pm
Sign up: [http://www.MassEqual…]
<
p>
Cape Cod – Provincetown
Monday, January 29th
6:30 PM
Sign up: [http://www.MassEqual…]
<
p>
South Coast – New Bedford/Dartmouth
To be announced
<
p>
For more information about these events or how to get involved, please contact Julie Verratti at (617) 878-2309 or JulieVerratti@MassEquality.org.
<
p>
Together, we will protect marriage equality for generations to come.
<
p>
Thank you,
<
p>
Marc Solomon
Campaign Director
<
p>
MassEquality.org was formed as a coalition dedicated to ensuring that the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court decision on marriage equality is upheld, and that any anti-gay amendment or legislation is defeated. MassEquality.org values its relationship with you. If you do not want to receive our updates, please visit If this email was forwarded to you and you would like to join the MassEquality.org email list, subscribe by visiting [http://www.MassEquality.org/action/subscribe.php. To make a financial contribution to support our work, please visit [http://www.MassEqual…]. Thank you. We are a team and together, we will win.
<
p>
Reply | Reply All | Forward Go to previous message | Go to next message | Delete | Inbox