Support Martha Coakley for U.S. Senate

The off-season election to replace the seat of the late Massachusetts Senator Ted Kennedy is currently taking place. Democrat Martha Coakley is running against Republican Scott Brown and the decision is a clear one for those who support LGBT equality.

The Republican contender is on the record opposing marriage equality and gay families:

"Brown believes that marriage should be between a man and a woman. In 2007, Brown voted in favor of a failed effort to place a proposed constitutional amendment on the statewide ballot that sought to ban additional gay marriages" (Daily Kos).

He also weighed in on state Senator Cheryl Jacques and her domestic partner having children, and said "it was not normal for two women to have a baby"

Martha Coakley has a stark difference of opinion when it comes to LGBT equality.

As Attorney General she filed a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of the Defense of Marriage Act. She is a 'fierce advocate' and supports marriage equality, ending Don't Ask Don't Tell, and combating hate crimes based on sexual orientation and gender identity.

Please consider donating, volunteering and spreading the word so that tomorrow the headline can say Massachusetts elects Senator Martha Coakley.

Urge Rhode Island Governor to Cancel Speaking Engagement at Anti-Gay Event

Rhode Island Republican Governor Don Carcieri has been selected as the keynote speaker at a fund raising banquet for the Massachusetts Family Institute. He plans to keep his commitment and share his thoughts on "traditional marriage" with the audience even though he has been urged by activists and the Democratic party to cancel his attendance.

The event is scheduled for Oct. 15 in Newton, Massachusetts and he will be addressing an organization and crowd that maintain that homosexuality is "unhealthy and destructive to society." This appearance is an affront to civil liberties, as the Governor is pandering to "sectarian extremists" as worded by the Democratic party.

Please demand the Governor cancel his speaking engagement with MFI.

http://www.governor.ri.gov/webform/inquirytest.php

Governor Donald L. Carcieri
Office of the Governor
State House, Room 115
Providence, RI 02903

Phone: (401) 222-2080
Fax: (401) 222-8096

Open Door Thursday

Open Door Thursday is an opportunity for citizens of Rhode Island to have access to Governor Carcieri. Open Door Thursday is held on the last Thursday of each month. Appointments are made on a first-come, first-serve basis.
Appointment Line: (401) 222-2080

AG Richard Blumenthal Urged To Defend State Law: Marriage Equality

Massachusetts became the 1st state to sue the U.S. government on July 8, 2009 over the federal Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), which denies married same-sex couples all 1,138 federal marriage benefits. Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley contends in the lawsuit that DOMA “constitutes an overreaching and discriminatory federal law.” You can view the full complaint here.

Marriage Equality has also been the law of the land in Connecticut since November 12, 2008. The Attorney General of Connecticut, Richard Blumenthal, states prominently on his website, “As the public’s lawyer, I am here to defend state laws.” Since marriage equality is indeed the law in Connecticut, we strongly urge Attorney General Blumenthal to follow Massachusetts’ lead and stand up for the citizens and laws of his state by filing a lawsuit against the federal Defense of Marriage Act.

In addition to Attorney General Richard Blumenthal having a duty to defend state law, defending marriage equality just so happens to be the politically expedient thing to do as well. The majority of Connecticut citizens support marriage equality and those numbers continue to grow.

Actions to take during August 10th-14th:

Call: (860)-808-5318 & Fax: (860)-808-5387

Email: attorney.general@po.state.ct.us

The Attorney General’s office is located at 55 Elm Street, Hartford, CT 06106. Feel free to stop by in person and relay your message urging Blumenthal to file a suit against DOMA.

http://defendthelaw.org/

DNC Fundraiser Protest in Boston Tonight

Join the Impact Massachusetts will be protesting the Democratic National Committee (DNC) fundraiser this evening at Boston's Fenway Park over the lack of fulfillment on promises to the LGBT community.


Tuesday, June 23, 2009
4:15pm - 5:00pm
Fenway Park: Gate B Entrance
Corner of Van Ness St. and Ipswich St.
Boston, MA

For questions or to get involved contact Paul Sousa at sousa.plm@gmail.com

The protest will be held in front of the entrance from 4:30pm till 5pm to bring awareness to the lack of Congressional and Presidential action on LGBT rights and particularly to the egregious DOMA legal brief.

Web Spotlight: Marriage Equality Works

Marriage Equality Works is a resource to help marriage equality supporters around the country tell the story of marriage in Massachusetts. Here you can learn the facts about equal marriage rights in Massachusetts, access tools to help educate the public in other states and donate to this important work.

Data Collection Begins for Anti-Transgender Hate Crime Victimization Survey

The Anti-Violence Project of Massachusetts has uploaded a survey intended to gather information about the circumstances and characteristics of hate crimes motivated by gender identity or expression-related bias. (You don't have to be from Massachusetts to fill out the survey).

Responses are requested from transgender victims of hate crimes in Massachusetts and throughout the United States. Please forward this link to transgender people and organizations in the United States. The results will be used to develop better strategies to prevent and combat hate-motivated violence against transgender people.

For more information, please contact Don Gorton, Chairperson of the Anti-Violence Project at dgorton@verizon.net

Please click here to to take the survey.

Crossposted via Cowtown Bisexual.

Right Wing Anti-Gay Marriage Scam in Massachusetts

A news story uncovering the deceptive efforts of the right-wing to get people to sign a petition to ban gay marriage in Massachusetts.

Cambridge Phelps-A-Thon

Fred Phelps and his anti-gay cult God Hates Fags will protesting against Cambridge Rindge and Latin school in Cambridge, MA, home to one of the oldest gay-straight alliances in the United States.

God Hates Fags is planning their demonstration for March 13th.

For every minute they protest, equality minded people worldwide will be donating to the Phelp-A-Thon.

http://www.phelps-a-thon.com/Cambridge.html

Praise Massachusetts Representatives for Moving Towards Transgender Equality

On Wednesday, legislation to ban discrimination against transgender people in Massachusetts was introduced with 104 original co-sponsors, including majorities in the Senate and House.

The legislation has more original co-sponsors than any other bill introduced this session of the legislature.

An Act Relative to Gender Based Discrimination and Hate Crimes adds gender identity and expression to non-discrimination laws covering employment, housing, credit, and public accommodations, as well as to hate crimes statutes.

We are one step closer to passing this critical legislation. But there is still work to be done.

If your legislator signed on to co-sponsor the bill please call and thank them for their support of equality, the list can be seen here.

You can call your legislator at 617-722-2000 Monday-Friday between 9 AM-5 PM.
Click HERE to find your legislators.

Red Eye's Greg Gutfeld Spews Out More Queerphobia

Greg Gutfeld who runs the Red Eye show on Fox News is no stranger to controversy. A year ago he engaged in trans bashing against Thomas Beatie the "pregnant man" as seen here and here.

So did Mr. Gutfeld learn his lesson, when he faced criticism by us and many in the LGBT community? Nope.

In his latest show he takes a plug at Barney Frank (D) the openly gay congressman from Massachusetts.

"Look, I don’t dispute that aliens exist, but there are more urgent matters to deal with, other than wrinkly creatures with a knack for anal probing. But enough about Barney Frank...I couldn’t resist."

Below is a video account of the segment.



Contact Fox News and Red Eye and tell them to stop their Homophobia!

Email: redeye@foxnews.com

Phone Fox News: 1-888-369-4762

Saving Marriage - Movie Trailer

Saving Marriage is beginning its release in select theaters. It documents the struggle, fear, hope, and controversy that occurred when Massachusetts legalized same-sex marriage. The movie looks very interesting, here is a trailer...



http://www.savingmarriagethemovie.com/

New Mass. Law Lets Out-of-State Gay Couples Marry

Fresh off the (Associated Press):

"Gay and lesbian couples from outside Massachusetts are now free to marry in the state.

Gov. Deval Patrick has signed a bill repealing a 1913 law that barred couples from marrying in Massachusetts if their union would not be valid in their own states.

Out-of-state gay couples will be able to marry immediately if a court waives the state's standard three-day waiting period for them.

Opponents had said repealing the law would make Massachusetts the "Las Vegas of gay marriage." But Patrick says the old law had its roots in racism as it was seen as a way of preventing interracial marriages.

The new law includes a provision waiving the customary 90-day waiting period for the change to go into effect."

Urge Mass Lawmakers to Repeal Discriminatory 1913 Marriage Law

UPDATE: Victory! The House of Representatives has voted 118-35, with five members not voting to repeal the 1913 law. Governor Deval Patrick has said he will sign the bill into law, effectively opening Massachusetts to out of state same-sex couples to be eligible to marry.

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Last week the Massachusetts Senate repealed a discriminatory 1913 law that barred out of state same-sex couples from marrying within the border of Massachusetts.

In order for the repeal to take effect the House of Representatives must follow the action of the Senate and vote for its repeal. Should this law be repealed it would open up the way for same-sex couples from other states to legally marry in Massachusetts.

Please copy and paste the emails below and urge representatives to repeal the "1913 law" that bans marriage in MA if the marriage would be considered invalid in another state.
http://www.mass.gov/legis/memmenuh.htm

Urge Mass Lawmakers to Allow Out of State Marriage!

The Massachusetts Senate is scheduled to vote tomorrow on whether to repeal a 1913 law that does not allow for couples from other states to marry within the borders of Massachusetts. If they vote to repeal the House will then vote the following week. Should this law be repealed it would open up the way for same-sex couples from other states to legally marry in Massachusetts.

Send an email to all 40 members of the senate and tell them to vote to repeal the 1913 law which is archaic and discriminatory CLICK HERE!

Call one or more senate offices - Phone number listings

Demand Apology for Transphobic Boston Herald Article

"The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) and Massachusetts Transgender Political Coalition (MTPC)are encouraging people to contact the Boston Herald and ask editors to apologize for the paper’s offensive slurs and sensationalistic coverage of transgender people.

On July 7, the paper posted an article online about a police operation headlined “Undercover ‘john’ takes on trannies, pimps” and focused on a Boston-area detective who goes undercover to arrest sex workers. The article repeatedly referred to transgender women as “trannies” and opened the story by describing how the detective has been “trapped inside houses of ill repute by giant naked trannies.” The article was also published in the July 8 print edition."

Read the article here: http://www.bostonherald.com/news/regional/general/view.bg?articleid=1105340

Please contact the Boston Herald and call on them to issue an apology.

Boston Herald Contacts:

Jessica Van Sack
City Reporter
jvansack@bostonherald.com
(617) 619-6437

Kevin Convey
Editor in Chief
Boston Herald
kconvey@bostonherald.com
(617) 619-6403

Joe Dwinell
City Executive Co-Editor
jdwinell@bostonherald.com
(617) 619-6177

H/T to Queah's Blog for the story.