Freedom To Marry: Actions to take and Vigils to attend

[Ian David]

Please take a moment to read this email as we approach the
Constitutional Convention this Wednesday, September 14th. It is
broken up into four parts:

** Quick Update
** Actions You Can Take Right Now
** Events and Volunteer Opportunities
** Volunteers Needed for Events and Phone Banking
** The Freedom to Marry Store and Fundraising

*** Quick Update ***
Every day for the last week, legislators have been either
publicly or privately announcing their intent to vote against
the pending anti-gay Constitutional Amendment. Our goal is to
defeat the Amendment by denying its proponents the 101 votes
required to move it forward on Wednesday September 14th at the
Constitutional Convention (Con Con). And we are confident that,
through all your hard work, we have built a marriage equality
majority in the legislature. Therefore, we are very optimistic
that we will not have to rely on the votes of those legislators
who oppose the amendment because it would leave same-sex headed
families with the crumb of civil unions.

This is all good news and would never have happened without your
incredible efforts. But the battle is not yet won. A vote is not
won until it is cast and counted. Equally important in defeating
the 2008 Amendment, we will need a super majority of three
fourths of the legislature (150 votes) to stop that egregious
Amendment from moving forward. Our goal is not simply the legal
protections of civil marriage but the social acceptance of every
gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender individual and the
families that they form.

Civil rights for gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people
will be under constant attack unless on September 14th we win
decisively in both the legislature and the court of public
opinion. And let's not kid ourselves; there is still much work
to be done even if we defeat the amendment. So please, in the
final sprint to the Con Con, consider taking the actions below
and plan on being in the State House, if possible this
Wednesday, September 14th.

*** Actions You Can Take Right Now ***

* Write letters to your LOCAL paper. Today a majority of
Massachusetts residents support marriage equality but many
continue to believe that opposition to marriage equality is a
community norm. Only by speaking up in your local community will
people realize that throughout the Commonwealth--and in your
city or town--people who support marriage equality are in the
majority. It is particularly important that we continue
educating voters about marriage equality and gay families
because a majority of voters over the age of 65 still oppose
equal marriage rights. And, older voters vote in much higher
proportion than young voters who overwhelmingly support marriage
equality. So don't think that just because 62% of voters support
marriage equality, we would win at the ballot box.

What to write. Please write in personal terms about why you
support marriage equality. Everybody has a story or anecdote to
share - whether you are gay or straight, old or young. If you
are a member of a labor union, a person of color, or an active
member of a faith community, please consider writing the letter
that will help your neighbors understand the diversity of
support that exists for marriage equality.

If you send or email a letter, please send us by separate email
a copy of the letter to [e-mail].

* Contact your legislators and get as many friends as you can to
do the same Whether your senator or representative supports or
opposes the pending anti-gay amendment--or any amendment that
writes discrimination into the Constitution--now is the time for
them to hear from you. We must make it clear to the legislature
that across this great Commonwealth the people of Massachusetts
do not approve of the mean-spirited, divisive intent behind any
amendment that relegates gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender
people to second-class citizenry. Starting today, when you send
a letter to your legislators through our system, we will CC a
copy to the Senate President who presides at the Constitutional
Convention. So please, if you haven't contacted your legislators
in the past month, take a moment to write them to express
support for marriage equality. Also, please consider sending a
copy of your letter to the editor of your local paper.

Click below to send a letter to your legislators.

http://urlcut.com/contactnow

* Forward this email to your friends, family, neighbors, and
colleagues, and ask them to go to EqualMarriage.org to contact
their legislators. Use this as an opportunity to reach out to
folks you haven't spoken to in the past about marriage equality
and remind supporters that contact with legislators on this
issue is critical - some legislators vote strictly by
constituent contacts.

*** Events and Volunteer Opportunities ***
Below is list of major events coming up next week, starting
tomorrow--we hope you will join us:


<snip>

Candlelight Vigil
Date: Tuesday, September 13
Where: State House
Time: 6:00pm
Click below to find other candle light vigils across the
Commonwealth

http://www.equalmarriage.org/whats_happening/2005vigils.php

Constitutional Convention
Date: Wednesday, September 14
Where: State House
Time: Lines will be forming as early as 6:30am
Constitutional Convention begins at 1:00pm
If you need transportation to the Con Con on Wednesday, here's
who to contact:

* Western MA (Northampton, Amherst) - Jack at
[e-mail]
* Central MA (Leominster, Worcester, Westboro) - Ron at
[e-mail]
* Cape Cod (P-town, Brewster, Hyannis, Sagamore Bridge) - Jerry
at [e-mail]

*** Volunteers Needed for Events and Phone Banking ***
In the days leading up to the Con Con next week - Monday and
Tuesday - and the day of the Convention, Wednesday, September
14th, we will be rallying and showing a massive presence at
events across the Commonwealth because we need all legislators
to see for themselves that pro-marriage equality is the majority
sentiment and we will continue to stand up for our rights as
long as they are threatened!

We need your help to make these events successful. Not only do
we need your attendance, but we need help with signs, materials
preparation, moving 84 cases of water up to the State House, and
the list goes on. The office is buzzing with activity and the
help of so many of you and we are grateful but we can always use
more hands on deck!

Here is what's coming up and if you can help out, please do -
it's fun and you get to meet some pretty cool people along the
way!

<snip>

To volunteer, contact MassEquality's Volunteer Coordinator at
[e-mail] or 617.878.2358.

*** The Freedom to Marry Store and Fundraising ***
The Freedom to Marry Coalition has always operated on a modest
budget. But, as you can imagine, our expenses increase during
heavy grassroots lobbying times like now, so please consider
making a contribution to our collective efforts.

Another fantastic way you can help out and build public
awareness and support for marriage equality is by shopping at
the Freedom to Marry Store. Jogging around the park with an
EqualMarriage.org tank-top or hoodie or drinking your coffee at
work with an EqualMarriage.org mug are opportunities to show
your support for marriage equality - and maybe generate a
conversation with folks along the way...oh, look at that cute
EqualMarriage.org clock, it must be time for marriage equality!

http://www.cafepress.com/ftmc

Finally, thank you for everything you do - you are the best.
Together we will win.

For the Freedom to Marry Coalition,

Joshua Friedes, Volunteer Advocacy Director
Jennifer Hess, Volunteer Director of Programs and Operations

P.S. If you haven't contacted your State Representative or State
Senator recently please do so now:

http://urlcut.com/contactnow

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If you received this message from a friend, you can sign up for
Freedom to Marry Coalition of MA at:

http://ga4.org/equalmarriage/join.html?r=w1zSEM41SX6wE

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