KnowThyNeighbor.org

Is The Editor of BayWindows Suggesting That LGBT Should Attend Catholic Charities' Christmas House Tour?

Deck The Halls and The Catholic Charities Trolley Service with Gay Apparel(ed) Tour-Goers December 2nd and 3rd

Susan Ryan-Vollmar, Chief Editor of Boston's BayWindows (an LGBT newspaper) rocked the boat two weeks ago when she published an advertisement for Catholic Charities of Boston's Laboure Center's 16th Annual Christmas House Tour.  On the surface, accepting an ad from an organization which has taken such aggressive stands against the LGBT Community might seem inappropriate.  And in the case of Catholic Charities especially, with its ending of one hundred years of adoptive services because it, could not reconcile its "religious" beliefs with its very "public/legal responsibilities" when it came to adoptions by gays and lesbians, it seemed to most that Susan Ryan-Vollmar, should have shown Catholic Charities "the proverbial door."

One BW reader even wrote a letter to the editor in BayWindows (link to follow) the following week criticizing Vollmar's decision to place this ad which elicited her response, "Unlike Catholic Charities, BayWindows doesn't discriminate."  But here is where this story gets really sweet and juicy.  The Archdiocese laid into Vollmar's decision to place their ad in BayWindows also which recently gained national media attention.  Evidently, by Archdiocese decry, Vollmar should have said, "No," to Catholic Charities' request to be treated equally as an advertiser.   

I certainly understand this letter writer's reaction.  I had the same one when I first heard of the ad in BayWindows.  But think about this ad...  We as concerned LGBT and activists need to weigh out the positives and negatives here as to what attendance of this Christmas House Tour means from a political point of view.  Firstly, all proceeds of the Christmas House Tour "benefits the programs and services of The Catholic Charities Laboure Center" in South Boston.  (for a list of these programs and services see this link)  But secondly, and for some very importantly, we need to remember that this is A CHRISTMAS HOUSE TOUR in a newly refurbished and remodeled historic building (The Gate of Heaven Church in South Boston) and SIX, hear me, SIX other historic homes in South Boston.  One can't get anymore LGBT than that. 

So just imagine, instead of a boycott, wouldn't it be better to actually attend this house tour?  And what a better way to celebrate this festive season than to bring your LGBT friends, family and children dressed in their best and MOST colorful Holiday apparel!  Let the Archdiocese know that it is 100 % correct in its assessment of LGBT and our compulsive affinity toward temptation.  And what could be more tempting than a refurbished and seasonally decorated room?

I believe it was Susan Ryan-Vollmar's boss, Sue O'Connell who once said to me, "In the news world, somethings that are good ideas on Monday may not be on Friday, but also, some bad ideas on Monday become great ideas on Friday."  But in Susan Ryan-Vollmar's case, knowing what I do about her dedication to LGBT issues, I am pretty sure that she knew EXACTLY what she was doing when she placed this ad.

The Laboure Center's 16th Annual Christmas Tour begins on Saturday, Dec. 2nd at 4 PM and concludes with a cocktail reception a the Winter Garden located at the World Trade Center East.  Trolley Transportation will be available to tour-goers from house to house.  Saturday's tickets are $ 75.  On Sunday, December 3rd, the tour runs from Noon-4PM and begins at the Laboure Center at 275 West Broadway and Castle Island.  Tickets for Sunday's tour are $25 in advance, $30 at the door.  For more information or to purchase tickets call the Laboure Center at 617-268-9670 or visit www.ccab.org/laboure

Tom Lang, Director

 

THIS Is What HOMOPHOBIA Looks Like

Photographs From the State House

 

Romney Rallys Anti-Gay Forces in To Be Ill-Fated Grab at White House

Grand Wizard Mitt Romney Gives Us A Show Worthy of Comparison To Those Put on By Other "Historical Regimes"

Sunday November 19th at 1PM, the Massachusetts State House was already draped with its largest flag...six state flags unfurled on poles in front of the larger flag...grandstand bleachers were aligned in perfect symmetry at the top steps full of hand-selected supporters...State Police in full dress uniforms stood equally dispersed on the stairs and guarding the bottom gate creating an air of severity with just a hint of fascist rule...and Executive aides could be seen on the balustraded balconies of this impressive Bulfinch structure.  The crowd gathered cheering on...hundreds maybe thousands bussed in from all over the State drawn from a database all too well known to this Commonwealth.   Great Ram's Horns known as Shofar were being blown... Professional singers belted nationalistic anthems affirming the crowd's place in present day history as concerned "patriots," "democrats" with a small "d" of course.

As the Ex-Governor, The Great Discriminator, approached the podium and took control of the microphone everyone knew that this was not a rally organized by VoteOnMarriage or even by its national parent organization, Focus on the Family, but this was absolutely, with no doubt, the brainchild of "the man" Mitt Romney himself for no other reason than a photo op and launching platform for his 2008 Presidential Bid.  One may wonder...who paid for this?  The tax-payers?  The Massachusetts Family Institute or its Ballot Question Committee, VoteOnMarriage?  Or were the checks cut from Romney's own Campaign Commission?  Or maybe from a combination of all three.  And what of the unified cries from the crowd lead by Mitt Romney--they were of course the "Sieg Heil" of "Let The People Vote."

What yesterday showed the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and the rest of the United States was a window into the world of hatred and of bigotry and of a false sense of the mandate of the people.  It showed how propaganda, mis-information, and months, no years, of the vilification of a group of human beings and fellow citizens can create an actual playing field of power--with one side claiming to stand on the "side of Democracy" while in fact demonizing the otherside as evil, immoral, destroyers of marriage, families and of society.  

If this did not open the eyes of every man, woman and child who witnessed the beginnings of this modern day Nurnberg, I would be shocked.  But then again, we often have a problem seeing what is often right in front of us until it is too late.    The one important difference between then and now is that we have brave men and women who happen to be gays, lesbians, bisexuals and transgenders and all of our supportive straight family members, friends and allies who were willing to come out yesterday and scream at the top of their lungs, "Shame!!!!" and "Bigot!!!!" and  by doing so cry to the world "No to Mitt Romney!" and "this is NOT Acceptable!"

Tom Lang, Co-Director

Let's Give Mitt Romney a SEND OFF this Sunday at the State House

Sunday, November 19th at 1 PM State House Steps

Our soon to be EX Governor Mitt Romney, Kris Mineau and I am sure one or two of the few remaining bigoted legislators (let's get a pool going to guess which ones) will be holding a Press Conference on the State House steps.  The Boston Globe AND even MassResistance know (as well as do we) that this is once again Mitt's attempt to draw the eyes of an ever-shrinking base to his proverbial soapbox.

Everyone will be there.  MassEquality, QueerToday, Freedom to Marry, TakeMassAction, and of course KnowThyNeighbor.org to tell Mitt Romney and his minions, otherwise known as Massachusetts Family Institute, just what we think of him.  The Great Discriminator is scheduled to speak at 1:30 PM so we are asking you to gather across the street from the State House steps at 1 PM or earlier.

KnowThyNeighbor volunteers will be handing out song sheets to mark this momentous occasion.  The song we have selected to send this "Horse's Ass" packing and mark the end of this hateful, anti-family and discriminatory amendment is this...(start practicing)

Na na na na, na na na na, hey hey hey, goodbye...

Na na na na, na na na na, hey hey hey, goodbye...

(song sheets will be distributed)

Tom Lang, Director

The Massachusetts Gay and Lesbian Political Caucus Gives a Behind the Scenes Look Into the November 9th ConCon

THANK YOU to Arline Isaacson, Chief Lobbyist for the MGLPC, and ALL the Brave Legislators Who Helped to End This Hateful, Discriminatory Amendment

The following is Arline Isaacson's account of the November 9th ConCon.  Arline and the Massaachusetts Gay and Lesbian Political Caucus have been fighting for fair treatment and equal rights for the LGBT community for decades.  If a thank you note and a check is appropriate to send to any organization, it would be to the MGLPC (aka "The Caucus").  Even as the Director of Non-Profit which needs financial support, I do not find it difficult to say that it is much more necessary to support the MGLPC even over our own organization.

Arline's Account:

November 9th’s Constitutional Convention saw the defeat of an extremely anti-gay marriage amendment and a final vote for recess that effectively stops the right-wing attempt to repeal same-sex marriage. MGLPC is proud to have led the terrific lobby team that fought for many years to keep marriage legal for LGBT citizens of the Commonwealth.

Many members have asked how we won on that very intense afternoon. It is one example of how the MGLPC lobby team works strategically in the State House, laying the groundwork day-to-day to defeat anti-gay legislation. Your support makes this possible. Help support MGLPC 

How We Won:

We faced two amendments on gay marriage at the Con-Con. The first one was originally introduced into the House by Rep. Emile Goguen.

The Goguen amendment was extremely radical. It proposed to ban same-sex marriage, ban civil unions, and revoke all previously issued same-sex marriage licenses. It was so hateful that it was not even introduced in the State Senate.

But back in 2005, MGLPC realized it could be a useful tool in the next Con-Con so we worked to get it added to the Con-Con calendar. The Goguen amendment was placed on the Con-Con calendar just ahead of the Initiative Petition to ban gay marriage the main amendment we have been fighting all year.

One key difference between the Goguen amendment and the Initiative Petition was that the Petition required only 50 legislators to vote to approve it, moving it forward to be on the ballot statewide, while the Goguen amendment required 101 votes. MGLPC knew we could muster more than 101 votes to defeat the Goguen amendment.

By the time the November 9th Con-Con arrived, we knew that our opponents would be able to get the 50 votes they needed to win on the Initiative Petition. Even though 2/3rds of the legislators supported equal marriage rights, we needed 3/4ths to win.

Working with our coalition partners and our core group of legislative leaders, MGLPC advocated strongly for a motion to end the Con-Con without voting on the Initiative Petition. We were committed to defeating it this year and ending the rancorous, exhausting debate on same-sex marriage.

As we approached the day of the Con-Con, marriage equality supporters - both legislators and activists - agreed that MGLPC's headcount was accurate, that we did not have enough votes to win and that the only way to stop the amendment would be by a procedural vote to adjourn or recess.

Calling and visiting legislators in their districts, marshalling every resource we could muster among constituents and allied organizations, we began gathering votes to adjourn or recess. Working practically 24/7, MGLPC worked closely with a core group of legislators in both the House and Senate leadership. The work was delicate, difficult and exhausting.
As expected, the Goguen amendment proved to be a strategic weapon. Because many legislators wanted to vote specifically against an anti-gay amendment, MGLPC lobbied to have that vote be a vote on the Goguen amendment rather than the Initiative Petition.

Once the Goguen amendment was defeated unanimously - even equal marriage opponents found it too extreme - Rep. Byron Rushing moved to recess the Con-Con.

His motion passed 109 to 87, and the convention was recessed until January 2, 2007.

We won because of the tremendous efforts of our core group of pro-marriage equality legislators and determined support from Speaker Sal DiMasi (previously honored at MGLPC’s annual summer party) who persuaded many legislators that a recess vote was principled and necessary.

But none of this would have been possible without your constituent lobbying, your election votes for pro-marriage candidates and your generous contributions to MGLPC. Contributions fund not only our lobbying but also our extensive election activities - rigorous candidate endorsement process, numerous statewide mailings, get-out-the-vote phoning and many, many volunteer hours on pro-marriage equality campaigns.

MGLPC works to protect and advance LGBT civil rights in the State House every day. Contribute to help fund our work

We thank you for your support!

Arline Isaacson and Gary Daffin
Co-Chairs

Look-up how your legislators voted on recess. If they voted YES on recess, use our email-your-legislator to thank them because voting for recess was the only way to stop the Initiative Petition amendment from passing.

See how your legislators voted: Votes on Recess 
If they voted YES on recess, send them a Thank You note: Email your Thank You! 

Email your Thank You to Arline Isaacson and The Caucus arlineisaacson@aol.com

Tom Lang, Co-Director

Massachusetts Legislature Blocks Discriminatory Amendment

Equal Rights in Massachusetts--the day after...

I woke up this morning with a similar feeling as one would have, say, the morning after a really bad night of fever and sweats which marked the end of the flu.  I felt drained and exhausted but knew the worst was over.  Yesterday, our LGBT lobbyists, activists and volunteers, great and small saw the end to the fear of discrimination and in-equality in Massachusetts.  By early evening Arline Isaacson and her group of Legislative Allies secured a "YES" vote to recess the anti-same sex marriage amendment to January 2nd, 2007.  A move which all but kills it dead in its shameful tracks.

When I checked my messages this morning, I found to my surprise, calls of congratulations and thanks coming from friends, colleagues and new acquaintences that we worked with on the Deval Patrick campaign.  My husband, Alex and I took our two Italian Greyhounds to Singing Beach, as we have not been able to do in weeks because of all the political work that we were doing, happily, but with "no choice."  I was approached by local Manchesterites and fellow dog walkers with their concerns (as always happens in a small town).  We talked about the big sign which was just put up at the entrance of Singing Beach and how we all agree that we should recommend it be reduced in size and moved to the side of the bath house.  We discussed that we all are happy with the fact that our beach will allow out-of-town dog walkers to join us in off season.  And we all criticized the ugly trash cans that have been scattered about town as part of our "Downtown Improvement Project." 

The subject of my equal rights did not come up once though many, many people smiled and waved at Alex and myself in a manner that would be considered ostentatious if you knew my WASPy little town.  And for once, in the last three years, I did not find it necessary to bring the subject up.  Because today, I felt safe, today I felt that I was just like everybody else with respect to my place in my little town in this great Commonwealth of Massachusetts.  Today I actually felt equal.  And today was about my husband, my dogs, my neighbors, big signs, out-of town dog walkers, and ugly trash cans. 

Last night we saw true leadership among legislators who said, "It is time to End the War on Equal Right here in Massachusetts!"  We need to thank them for that and for giving us our lives back.

See how they voted!
(a YES vote means they understood the importance of killing this amendment)

Tom Lang, Co-Director

It's OVER! Anti-Gay Marriage Amendment Dead

Aaron Toleos, Director (978) 821-4620

Deval Patrick Is Massachusetts' New Pro-Equality Governor

Though Local Victories Are Bitter-Sweet As Seven More States Pass Anti- Same-Sex Marriage Bans

Let's take a "moment" to celebrate our important victories of last night's elections. Our new Pro-Equality Governor and Lt. Governor Deval Patrick and Tim Murray.  Pro-Equality Attorney General Martha Coakley.  Also, three Pro-Equality Legislators have replaced our most vocal anti-gay legislators--John Fernandes replaced Rep. Marie Parente, Stephen DiNatale replaced Rep. Emile Goguen, and Steve D'Amico replaced Rep. Phil Travis.

Other Pro-Equality winners included Rep. Barbara L'Italien (59/41), Rep. Harriett Stanley (62/38), Rep. Mary Grant (81/19) wow!  And in the 4th Barnstable (replacing the nasty Rep. Shirley Gomes) is lesbian selectwoman, Sarah Peake (Dem) who won against conflicted, anti-same-sex marriage, but gay, GOP challenger, Aaron Maloy by a 56 to 44 spread.  And Senator Dianne Wilkerson among many others.

Nationally, Senator Rick Santorum is OUT! I wish literally as it would explain ALOT!.  And Arizona voted to NOT BAN Same-Sex Marriage.  Oh and I almost forgot, Congratulations to Congressman Barney Frank.  Pro-Equality Congressman John Tierney (my Congressman) who held off opponent Rick Barton (R) who is from Manchester-by-the-Sea.  And a special thank you to openly gay candidates, Grace Ross who not only ran for Governor but was a very crucial factor in the 2006 race on many levels and of course, Owen Broadhurst in the 3rd Hampden.

Now, the bad news, voters in seven more states passed anti-same-sex marriage bans.  This will undoubtably give Kris Mineau, Brian Camenker and their bevvy of bigots the fuel to their shameful arguments.  Why do I believe that these people with always have some sort of excuse to take away our rights?

Now, let's get back to work.  More than ever it is important to contact YOUR Senator and Representative and tell him or her that this shameful, hurtful amendment which is scheduled to be discussed in tomorrow's (Nov. 9th) Constitutional Convention must not be allowed to place our Equality, our families, our children and everyone's Constitution in harm's way.

Follow this link through the Massachusetts Gay and Lesbian Political Caucus which will assist you in contacting your Legislator.  Please DO IT NOW!  And email it to everyone you know, friends, family, co-workers, people whose businesses and charities and schools you support and make it perfectly clear to them the importance of Equal Rights and Protections for all of us.

Thank you.

Tom Lang, Co-Director

   

Globe Article: "It's Time to Move On"

VoteOnMarriage sent out an email blast asking supporters to write the Globe in opposition to Adrian Walker's column (below).  I will be writing a letter of support and invite you to join me. Try to keep your letter to 150 words or less to increase the likelihood it will be printed. Also, submissions must be accompanied by a phone number for verification purposes. Send your letter directly to letter@globe.com.

It's time to move on

By Adrian Walker, Globe Columnist  |  November 6, 2006

Wisconsin has a referendum on gay marriage tomorrow.

In one of the ads in the last-minute blitz by opponents of same-sex marriage, a boy of perhaps 5 looks into the camera and says earnestly, "If my dad marries another man, who'll be my mom?"

Not that they're trying to manipulate voters or anything.

Perish the thought.

Later this week, the Massachusetts Legislature will convene to decide the fate of a question that could appear before Bay State voters in 2008, placing same-sex marriage on the ballot.

My question: Can't we finally just give it a rest? How many of us want a two-year campaign like the one described above?

If the proposed ballot question is approved by 25 percent of lawmakers on Thursday, it will appear go to the voters. If not, it dies. There's no guarantee that the Legislature will vote on it, and no law that says it has to.

While legislative leaders have been publicly noncommittal, I would not be surprised if this issue were dealt with by some more efficient means, such as adjourning without a vote. That would also effectively defeat it.

I believe that in a perfect world, the Legislature would vote it down. But, given the low threshold -- 25 percent -- needed to pass the initiative, that is unlikely. So, legislative leaders who oppose the measure may well decide to latch onto the next best alternative, which is to deep-six it. Bills die without a vote every day the Legislature is in session -- and so, too, do proposed constitutional amendments.

By now, there's not much to add to the familiar arguments on both sides. Those who oppose same-sex marriage believe that it undermines the traditional definition of marriage. They always will.

Those who support it believe, as I do, that it is a matter of constitutionally guaranteed equality, and that opponents are essentially seeking to write inequality into the constitution. That view has not changed either.

Where I believe attitudes have changed is among the vast group of voters in the middle. There are many people who are not passionately on either side of the issue, who believe it just doesn't affect their lives very much.

For the majority of those voters, I believe, the lesson of the past 18 months is that they were right all along: Same-sex marriage really doesn't affect them much. I also believe many of those voters are fine with what has become the status quo.

Much will be made of the fact that same-sex marriage has been voted down in every state that has voted on it. That said, it has never been on the ballot in a state that already has it, a state where voters' ability to live with the change it brings has already been put to the test.

In this context, the recent embrace of Deval Patrick by black clergy has been a fascinating development, precisely because this issue once loomed as a huge wedge between them.

The once-disputed notion of gay marriage as a civil rights issue has steadily gained currency. Recently, a group of prominent African-Americans, including the Rev. Peter Gomes, Charles Ogletree, and Mel King, signed on to a statement proclaiming support for same-sex marriage as a civil rights issue. Patrick also signed it.

The statement, sponsored by Mass Equality, a gay rights advocacy group, states, "We do not wish to turn back the hands of time to a less tolerant time when any group of people's basic human rights were debased, devalued, and disrespected."

Marc Solomon, campaign director for Mass Equality, said he thinks that Massachusetts residents have been influenced by what they have seen since gay marriage was rendered legal.

"The more people hear from gays and lesbians, the more they realize that there's nothing to be afraid of," he said. "It's time to move on."

Time to move on indeed. The Legislature has an opportunity to protect a right that is enshrined in the state constitution, and that is exactly what it should do. By any means necessary.

Aaron Toleos, Director
(978) 821-4620

YOU MUST BE AT THE STATEHOUSE ON THURSDAY NOV. 9th

We Need To Show The World That Equality Is Worth Fighting For

Be at the State House Steps on Thursday, November 9th as Early as 5:30 AM and up to as late as 7 PM for the Constitutional Convention in which we will see the Defeat of this Shameful Constitutional Amendment.  By ALL MEANS BRING SIGNAGE, be creative, and be able to "talk about" and represent what you put on your signs (see the photos posted here).  Bring your children, your parents, your friends, your neighbors and let's show the world in numbers and in sentiment that we WILL NOT lose our Equal Rights.  This is also a GREAT OPPORTUNITY for you to visit with your legislators if you have not already done so.  Be respectful, identify yourself to the Legislative Aides with your name and address and tell them what Equal Rights means to you, your family and future generations in the Commonwealth.  And that Our Constitution is BEST to be LEFT ALONE--either by a "NO" vote or "No Vote At All."

This Is It Folks!!  Attendance Is Mandatory!!  See You There.

Tom Lang, Co-Director