KnowThyNeighbor.org

What To Expect On January 2nd Constitutional Convention

My Thoughts About Tuesday And the Aftermath--Whatever the Outcome It's A Win-Win Situation...for Mitt Romney

On Tuesday January 2nd, The Massachusetts Legislature will re-convene for Constitutional Convention which will decide the fate of the Anti-Same-Sex Marriage Amendment.  It can go many ways and each is still up in the air.  Last week's Supreme Judicial Court Decision which stated that the Legislature has a duty to vote but there is no remedy for those who do not vote except for the unhappy electorate to express its discontent at the ballot box, did not help.

The LGBT and supporters of Equality which include the 109 Legislators who voted for a recess on November 9th see Tuesday's responsibility imposed to kill this amendment now and finally with an adjournment vote.  Historically, a vote to recess then a vote to adjourn successfully killed a liberal ballot initiative back in 1990 in Massachusetts.  This ballot question would have given the Massachusetts voters the opportunity to protect on a state level a woman's right to reproductive freedom in case Roe vs. Wade were overturned.  Well, the conservatives, many of whom are angry now about same-sex marriage, revelled in this procedural strategy then.

There is also, of course, the strategy of the Legislators "just not showing up."  This has also been done before, directly to stop a ballot initiative and indirectly due to complacent legislators.  So, a quorum strategy may also be in the works.

Then there is the "dreaded" yes or no vote which is a very real possibility.  The SJC reading last week may have pushed some Legislators to want to vote on the merits of the amendment.  And yes, Romney's influence (even post mortem), Kris Mineau's pathetic lawsuit which only has symbolic and annoyance benefits, and VoteOnMarriage's "Dead or Alive" Style Wanted posters which have the Legislator's  photos and home phone numbers and are being distributed in districts and towns known for higher crime rates are weighing on the minds of many a Senator and Representative.  Of course, the "conservatives" have perfected scare tactics and even Massachusetts is not immune to them.

My observations of Tuesday's Constitutional Convention's outcome...If this amendment is killed procedurally by adjournment or non-quorum, same-sex marriage in Massachusetts will be saved.  However, the repercussion from the other side will be tremendous at first, potentially more lawsuits, with guaranteed press opportunities galour for Mineau, Cardinal O'Malley, Romney and others.  With Deval Patrick in office, there is a potential, a good one, for the public focus to be quickly directed away from marriage.

If there is a yes or no vote, we will probably lose and the amendment will move to another Constitutional Convention in the Spring.  Many say that we will win in the Spring because the climate, the corner office and the Legislature have changed significantly.  So if by chance Tuesday is disappointing and we lose (remember the anti-gay side only needs 50 votes), then we have work to do and we need to start immediately.  A disappointing outcome MUST NOT direct you to burn bridges with Legislators who refused to undertake a procedural adjournment.  Some in our LGBT leadership and our gay press have been a little too critical of some legislators after the November 9th vote and we need to work with these Legislators who are right now committing to voting against allowing the amendment to go to "The People."

Each of the lobbies ours and theirs, thinks it has the strategy all figured out.  As we saw with the SJC decision, each side claimed victory and after Tuesday, each side will "know what to do."  In politics, every day is different and nothing is black and white--especially when we are dealing with 200 very different legislators, all who come from a different mindset.  The only person who will win on Tuesday no matter the outcome is Mitt Romney.  If we win, he says that he did all he could do and is awarded a Purble Heart by the conservatives.  If the anti-gays win, well Romney takes home a Golden Globe. 

Tom Lang, Director

Same-Sex Marriage To Be Unifier Among Diverse Religious Groups And Deval Patrick Is The Bridge?

Religious Leaders Openly Put Aside Their Opposition To Same-Sex Marriage To  Bless and Support Governor Elect Deval Patrick Before His Inauguration

On Tuesday night January 2nd, in a symbolic and spiritual gesture of support, various black ministers who openly oppose same-sex marriage will "lay hands" on Deval Patrick's head in an ancient Christian rite to bless him in his upcoming term as Massachusetts Governor.  The Boston Globe reports that Bishop Gilbert A. Thompson and other ministers, many of whom built strong alliances with Mitt Romney, will do this blessing of Deval Patrick at Thompson's church on the evening after the important Constitutional Convention which will determine the fate of same-sex marriage in the Commonwealth.

Two days later on Inauguration Day, several other openly anti-gay religious leaders will also be blessing Patrick.  These will include some who have been outspoken in their efforts to prevent same-sex marriage, among them Roman Catholic Cardinal Sean P. O'Malley Archbishop of Boston and a Springfield pastor, Talbert W. Swan II, who calls same-sex marriage a "moral travesty" and refers on his website to the "so-called love" depicted between two men in the Oscar-winning film "Brokeback Mountain."

But don't worry, Deval has made room to be blessed by some real "Christians" too, those who understand the full beauty and diversity of God's creation and support LGBT's equal place in that great vision.  They include Unitarian Universalist President William G. Sinkford, Episcopal Bishop Gayle Harris and Harvard's (and KTN's friend) American Baptist Reverend Peter J. Gomes.

So what does this mean for LGBT and the future of marriage equality in Massachusetts?  Is Deval Patrick trying to be a bridge builder?  Deval Patrick's inclusion of all the leaders of faith in his Inaugural Ceremonies together with these leaders' willingness to participate might mean that same-sex marriage will no longer be used as a means to demoralize the LGBT, scapegoating us and blaming us and our relationships for all the woes of modern civilization including the breakdown of families, fatherlessness in the African-American community and the devaluation of marriage (among other things).  This could mean that these religious leaders will actually back away from the debate and begin one of their own, one that has been thrown on the table before...that the State should get out of the marriage business all together (at least in its religious aspects), create a list of rights and responsibilities available to ALL couples (same-sex and different sex), and leave the religious connotations of marriage to the churches themselves.  In Massachusetts this had already been suggested by Rep. Paul Loscocco and Senator Bruce Tarr--both Republicans.

Or this Holy Union of religious leaders might produce a very well backed "compromise" at the expense (once again) of the LGBT Community and our Equal Rights.  Tuesday's Constitutional Convention will play a significant role in this drama, no matter what the outcome.  I can say on Deval's behalf that he continues to amaze me with the number of challenges he is willing to accept--this being one of them.  I try not to be a pessimist and I really do believe that Deval does talk and present to all of us a truly idealistic vision of how things should be and can be if we only try.  I guess it is best to say, in Devalian terms, " Next week is a time for blessings and prayers, but the following week is when the work begins."

Tom Lang, Co-Director 

Worcester Police Sergeant Interview, " Larry Cirignano, Catholic Citizenship President Admits to Pushing Sarah Loy Down."

"Take A Stand For Democracy" Rally Organizers Still Have Not Taken "A Stand Against Violence" and Acknowledged Wrongdoing in Saturday's Assault on a Young Woman

It has just been put out on the wire by a reporter at EdgeBoston that in an interview with eyewitnesses and the police that Sgt. Kerry Hazelhurst of the Worcester Police Department has gone on record saying that Larry Cirignano admitted to him that he "pushed down" Sarah Loy at Saturday's Rally at the Worcester City Hall.

Peter Cassels, Edge National News Editor reports, Officers did not witness the incident, Worcester police spokesperson Sgt. Kerry Hazelhurst told EDGE Dec. 19. If they had, they would have placed Cirignano under arrest on a misdemeanor charge, he said. "He’s already admitted that he touched her," Hazelhurst reported. Under Massachusetts law, a person can be charged with assault and battery by merely touching another person if the touch is unwanted, Hazelhurst explained. "He pushed her down and he admits that as well."

So, here you have it.  Eyewitnesses including a journalist from the Worcester Telegram and Gazette, all who will be testifying in the Criminal Hearing for Assault and Battery.  KnowThyNeighbor, The Gay And Lesbian Anti-Violence Project and MassEquality have all formally called for Larry Cirigano's resignation, and NOW we have police testimony that Cirignano himself admitted to "pushing down" Sarah Loy contradicting his statements in The Boston Globe.

This guy has got to step down immediately and VoteOnMarriage, The Massachusetts Family Institute and the Catholic Citizenship need to own up to Cirignano's actions and give an apology to Sarah Loy.  For a second I almost wrote "and the LGBT Community."  But we need to sit back for one moment and understand the nature of this assault.  This was an assault first on a citizen who was exercising her right of free speech.  Secondly, it was an assault by a man on a woman.  And Thirdly, and I conclude this with the comment that this list is NOT in order of importance, necessarily...this was an assault by a man on a woman who, by the nature of this rally may have been perceived or assumed to be a lesbian.  KnowThyNeighbor stands by our conviction that Larry Cirignano and his associates need to apologize to All of us

Tom Lang, Director 

Larry Cirignano Provides Email Response to Assault (Wait Until You Read What He Said)

Larry Cirignano Sends A Gay Man An Email Written This Morning After This Man Responds To Boston Globe Article

When someone said, "The Truth is Stranger than Fiction" he must have had insight into this assault on Equality Supporter Sarah Loy by Catholic Citizenship President, Larry Cirignano.  I was sent an email from a KnowThyNeighbor reader and the response that came from [email protected] -- yes, Larry Cirignano.

The gay man who wrote the initial email which he sent to The Catholic Citizenship ([email protected]) at 7:23 AM this morning.  And a very interesting email was returned by [email protected] at 3:22 PM this afternoon.  I really do not think that I need to continue this post other than share the correspondance.  The emailer's name and phone number and email address have been removed by me, but I have them and confirmed with him moments ago.

Tom Lang, Director

Sent to KnowThyNeighbor:

Hello,

I received this email from the Catholic organization shown below.  I sent an email this morning to voice my opinion about my rights to marry my fiance.

I received an odd response from [email protected].  Given an email I just received from your organization, I thought it might be the same Larry who had assaulted the woman in worcester the other day.

I did not reply since I didn't think it warrented a response.

XXXXXXXXX
XXXXXXXXX
Jamaica Plain, MA 02130

XXX XXX-XXXX

Email Sent to CatholicVote from Gay Man:

---

From: XXXXXXXXXXXXX
Sent: Monday, December 18, 2006 7:23 AM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Stop Living in Fear

To Whom It May Concern,

Please stop living in Fear and let ALL the citizens of the Commonwealth love who they choose to love.

My fiance  and I will be married here in Massachusetts this February 19th on the same day my loving caring parents have over 50 years ago.  Both our parents and family members will be attending with joy.

To place our rights on the ballot is simply not fair.  I don't care if you like or dislike homosexuality.  It is only fair that we should have the same rights as everyone else. 

Please ask yourself how a vote would have gone if people in the South had the chance to vote on African America civil rights decades ago?  I think you know the answer already.

This IS a civil rights issue and you know it. 

Again, please stop living in fear and try to actually live your life as a Christian instead of a Homophobe.

Sincerely,

Veteran, Tax Payer, and Citizen of the Commonwealth

XXXXXXX

XXXXXXXXXXXX

Jamaica Plain, MA 02130
----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Email sent to gay man from [email protected]

-----Original Message-----
From: [email protected]
To: XXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Sent: Mon, 18 Dec 2006 3:22 PM
Subject: RE: Stop Living in Fear

10 out of 10 proctologists say:  DON’T Do it!

Man Beaten By Anti-Gay Marriage Activist at 11/9 ConCon

This man was crossing the street to join the marriage equality demonstration when an anti-gay marriage activist from VoteOnMarriage yelled an offensive epithet at him.  He confronted the man who had yelled the slur at him and there was an altercation in which he was beaten down by the VoteOnMarriage supporter.  He apparently went into a seizure at this point and an ambulance was called.

While he lay on the ground for 5 or 10 minutes awaiting the ambulance, VoteOnMarriage supporters ignored him and continued their chanting -- a few supporters literally stepping over his prostrate body as they marched up and down the street with their "Let the People Vote" signs.

Aaron Toleos, Director
(978) 821-4620

Pro-Equality Supporter Assaulted By Catholic Citizenship Director Files Criminal Complaint with Worcester Police

Sarah Loy, the 27 Year Old Marriage Equality Supporter Files Criminal Complaint Against Larry Cirignano, President of Catholic Citizenship with Police

The attack by Larry Cirignano of the Catholic Citizenship on Sarah Loy at VoteOnMarriage's "Take A Stand For Democracy" Rally has become Criminal--as it should be.  KnowThyNeighbor has just learned from Sarah Loy herself that she has indeed in fact filed a criminal complaint with Worcester Police against Larry Cirgnano for his assault on her at Saturday's rally at the Worcester City Hall.

Thanks to the blog MassResistance Watch, KnowThyNeighbor was able get in contact with a key witness, in fact, "the first responder" who saw Ms. Loy grabbed by Larry Cirignano and pushed down on the ground.  The force by which she landed on the concrete caused him to be concerned with Ms. Loy's "physical health" and he rushed to her aid, lifting her hair off the pavement.  This eyewitness confirmed by his account that Ms. Loy was at the outer perimeter of the anti-gay demonstrators and far from the podium when she was pushed to the ground by Cirignano.  It has also been reported by this key witness that he had contacted the Boston Globe reporter James Vaniz who pooh-poohed this incident in Today's Globe, and offered his eyewitness account of the assault by Cirignano.  The email that was forwarded to KTN reads in Vaniz's words, "Thanks for the offer, but at this point, I am not sure if there will be another story.  I'll let you know if I hear otherwise."  I wonder who got to the Boston Globe?  Ray Flynn, Sean O'Malley, or maybe "His Eminence" himself???  Mitt Romney that is...  Oh by the way, did I point out that this witness and concerned human being for Ms. Loy's well-being is a straight man, who was there at the rally to support OUR equal rights?

And here is what we know for sure and what is still in the rumor mill.  It has been confirmed that BayWindows has a photograph of Ms. Loy taken immediately after the assault.  This photograph shows Ms. Loy on the ground after the attack.  Also, it has been confirmed that the reporter covering the story, Rich Nangle and who published the first account of the assault was an eyewitness to the attack.  Ms. Roy reports that this reporter's words to her were, " I saw the whole thing."  KnowThyNeighbor had posted photos of this reporter interviewing Ms. Loy seconds after the assault, so it confirms that he was very close to her. 

What has not been confirmed is the actual existence of a video in the hands of pro-equality supporters at this moment.  I witnessed many videos that day.  Ms. Loy states that video cameras were on her throughout the day before the assault and I am sure that a taping will surface.

KnowThyNeighbor is calling for Larry Cirignano's immediate resignation.  No matter how he and the Catholic Citizenship try to spin this one, "It ain't gonna fly."  Even Ambassador Ray Flynn was quoted saying, "nobody has the right to push anyone.  The marriage issue is very important and everyone is entitled to protest and demonstrate peacefully."   Can we anticipate the Catholic Citizenship and VoteOnMarriage to do the right thing here now that a criminal assault has taken place by one of its directors?  Don't hold your collective gay breath... but anything else would just be..."criminal."

***Breaking News 4:30 PM 12/18/06 ***

I just spoke with the reporter from the Worcester Telegram and Gazette, Rich Nangle, who first reported on the assault.  Rich witnessed the entire assault, purposefully wrote the initial story without words such as "alleged" as he was writing a first person account.  He will also be testifying in the criminal case.  Nangle told KnowThyNeighbor regarding Cirignano's assault, "I have never seen anything so disgusting." 

Tom Lang, Director

Woman Assaulted by President of Catholic Citizenship at Worcester Rally

PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Primary Contact: Tom Lang, Co-Director
Office: (978) 768-3830
Cell: (978) 335-0477

Secondary Contact: Aaron Toleos, Co-Director
Cell: (978) 821-4620

Woman Assaulted by President of Catholic Citizenship at Worcester Rally

Manchester-by-the-Sea, MA, December 17, 2006 -- Tom Lang, director of the gay rights organization KnowThyNeighbor.org and a counter-demonstrator at Saturday's anti-gay marriage rally in Worcester, denounces the assault made by Larry Cirignano, President of Catholic Citizenship, on Sarah Loy, a 27-year-old marriage equality supporter.

As reported by the Worcester Telegram and Gazette:

"Loy... was holding a sign in defense of same-sex marriage amid a sea of green 'Let the People Vote' signs when Larry Cirignano of Canton, who heads the Catholic Citizenship group, ran into the crowd, grabbed her by both shoulders and told her, 'You need to get out. You need to get out of here right now.' Mr. Cirignano then pushed her to the ground, her head slamming against the concrete sidewalk."

Cirignano then proceeded back to the podium area where Former Ambassador to the Vatican Ray Flynn was about to speak.

Lang, who attended all four of the so-called "Democracy Rallies" held over the last week by anti-gay marriage activists, reacted by saying, "The attack on Ms. Loy was nasty and disgraceful.  Mr. Cirignano should be ashamed and has shown that he doesn't belong in a leadership position."

Lang said that he wasn't totally surprised by this act of violence noting that "the rhetoric and actions of the anti-gay marriage activists has reached a fever pitch since their amendment was sidelined by the 109 legislators that voted to recess the Constitutional Convention." He notes that VoteOnMarriage.org, sponsor of the anti-gay marriage amendment, has even printed Wild West, Dead-or-Alive-style Wanted posters that have the legislators' photos and home phone numbers on them. And the legislators' home addresses have been posted on the VoteOnMarriage.org website where anti-gay marriage supporters are instructed to urge the legislators to take a vote "or face the potential consequences."

Lang finds great irony in the fact that Ms. Loy was assaulted for exercising her rights to free speech at what was supposed to be a "Democracy Rally."  "This confirms what most of us already know to be true --" said Lang, "that the anti-gay marriage activists only believe in Democracy when it suits their religious agenda and not when it means protecting the civil rights of a minority."

More information is available on the KnowThyNeighbor.org blog, listed as one of the Top 25 National Gay Community Blogs by the Advocate Magazine.

###

President of Catholic Citizenship Violently Assaults Woman in Worcester As KnowThyNeighbor Volunteers Witness

Larry Cirignano, President of The Catholic Citizenship Assaults Same-Sex Marriage Supporter as She Holds Sign At Worcester City Hall Rally

At Saturday's "Take a Stand For Democracy" Rally which was organized by the Massachusetts Catholic Citizenship and VoteOnMarriage, Larry Cirignano violently assaulted Sarah Loy, 27, of Worcester as she held a pro-equality sign.(See Worcester Telegram and Gazette) Cirignano, who had just given a speech at the public rally at Worcester's City Hall left the podium area, ran through the crowd and grabbed Ms. Roy by both shoulders, told her, "you need to get out of here right now" and pushed her to the ground slamming her head against the concrete sidewalk, as witnesses looked on with horror.

KnowThyNeighbor volunteers were called to and attended this public rally which was the fourth and last in a series of Catholic Citizenship/VoteOnMarriage supported forums.  KTN volunteer, John Hosty, photographed Sarah Roy as she and witnesses gave their statements to Officer G.F. Wells of the Worcester Police Department. 

KnowThyNeighbor was leading the crowd in chants of "Shame, shame, shame," and "You lost, go home get over it!" and "Remember 1990" as the VoteOnMarriage demonstrators continued with their chants of "Let the People Vote."  We once again had to endure speeches by Kris Mineau, President of the Massachusetts Family Institute, Ex-Ambassador to the Vatican, Ray Flynn, Larry Cirignano and various ministers lying to us about the legitimacy and honesty of the petition drive, delivered their "spin" on the meaning of our constitution and that they (meaning the VoteOnMarriage demonstrators) were only there to defend democracy NOT end same sex marriage.  This rally was alot different than the other three (Springfield, Barnstable and New Bedford) in that the anti-gay demonstrators seemed to be on a whole very angry and aggressive.  They were in a public location and our side had every right to be there in a counter-demonstration.  We were constantly being told by their supporters to remain quiet and they even tried to block our access to the public sidewalk.  One VoteOnMarriage volunteer actually forcefully hit me in the chest and grasped on telling me that I had to leave as I walked along the sidewalk with my side which read, "Start Acting Like Christians."  Having attended hundreds of rallies, I know that grabbing a person like that in this way is a big mistake and I have not seen that sort of reaction from seasoned anti-gay volunteers. 

What was so unusual and calculated about Larry Cirignano's assault on Sarah Loy was that he left the podium area right after he gave his speech and pushed Sarah to the ground, then he returned back to the podium to stand next to Evelyn Reilly and Kris Mineau as they waited for Ambassador Flynn.  This was not your average "heated moment."  This was a premeditated, aggressive and uncalled-for assault by the President of the Catholic Citizenship on a young lady who was exercising her right to assemble, protest and voice her free speech...the key components to our American Democracy.  And wasn't THAT supposed to be what this rally was organized for?  Or maybe Larry Cirignano was not aware of this.

Perhaps we should tell him

Larry Cirignano 617 755-7668  Catholic Citizenship [email protected]

Ambassador Ray Flynn 617 269-0909 [email protected]

Tom Lang, Director

Deval Patrick Named A Bigot As Co-Chair of the Human Services Working Group

Assigning the Reverend Richard Richardson of The Black Ministerial Alliance as Co-Chair Says One Thing, "It is Okay to To Actively Discriminate Against LGBT people and their families"

This has been the most difficult blog post for me to write since we started KnowThyNeighbor.  As you know, Governor Elect Deval Patrick established a "Transition Team" back in November.  Part of this team's responsibility was to develop "working groups" which would go out to the Commonwealth to collect testimony from activists, community leaders, philanthropists and average people about how they feel the Patrick/Murray Administration can best govern Massachusetts.

If you worked at all on the Deval Patrick Campaign or were ever contacted by the campaign you probably received an email asking you to actually attend one of these working group meetings and to provide your comments.  As you can imagine, I received many requests to speak both as automated and personal emails.

This photo on this post is of the Reverend Richard Richardson, taken at Monday's meeting in Lawrence.  Rev. Richardson is the Co-Chair of Deval Patrick's Human Services Working Group.  Richardson has a large resume.  He is The President and CEO of Children's Services of Roxbury.  But he also holds some positions worthy of more than a small note in BayWindows.  Reverend Richardson testified before a Congressional Committee in favor of the Federal Marriage Amendment.   Richardson is a Board Member of the Black Ministerial Alliance which had taken a strong stand against same-sex marriage back in 2004 justifying its position by stating social issues like "fatherlessness in the Black community"  and joined VoteOnMarriage in sponsoring the initiative petition to end same sex marriage.

Reverend Richardson is also an Advisory Board Member for the Alliance For Marriage which is in the forefront of pushing the Federal Marriage Amendment through Congress.  Locally, Richardson is one of the thirty original signers of VoteOnMarriage's Initiative Petition To Define Marriage and is one of the ten plaintiffs in Mitt Romney's most recent lawsuit to place the initiative petition directly on the ballot. (see brief)

I have a few important questions.  Why did Deval Patrick, "The Hero of Equal Rights and the LGBT Community" allow Reverend Richardson's appointment as Co-Chair of the Human Services Working Group?  Lets' just say that I have made a week's worth of phone calls to Deval's people and have not been given the courtesy of one phone call back until today.  It is funny but all of my contacts within Deval's offices seem not to want to return any calls.  These were the same people that back when I contributed a sizeable donation, hosted a $ 10,000 house party and helped chair another $ 200,000 event were in "constant" contact with me.  The young lady who returned a call was Anne Roach.  She told me that she understands my disappointment and told me that the working groups term expires tomorrow.  As if that is some sort of consolation to us for Deval having appointed such a flagrant bigot to this position.  This speaks volumes to Deval's character and how his new administration might operate.

That being said...Why have not the LGBT Groups and Leadership in Our Community made a big deal out of this?  I admit that I was very late in posting this as I was not aware of the appointment weeks ago.  I will admit and own that I did not vett Deval's transition team members because I didn't think I had to.  And I sat on this post for a week while I gave Deval's people and Press Office time to call me with some explanation that would put all things right.  But that never happened.  Because there is no excuse.

I cannot of good conscience give Deval Patrick a pass on this one and neither should any of us.  I am the one who will call School Boards when I find out that a committee member has taken a very public stand against our equal rights and I make sure that these schools have policies in place that will protect the students and their families against any sort of discrimination.  I even went so far as to call the Boys and Girls Club of Boston because one of its Board Members and neighbor of mine contributed $ 5000 to VoteOnMarriage and I was concerned that the Club's policies may be affected by this person.  So you can imagine that I am duely sickened that Deval rewarded Richardson with a place in his transition team albeit for a month.

I never thought that I would say this because I was such a supporter of the Governor Elect, but we need to watch Deval Patrick in every step he makes, every appointment he makes, and especially in the people that he keeps close to him in his new administration.

Very disappointed,

Tom Lang, Director

VoteOnMarriage and Catholic Citizenship Rallies a Failure

Three Rallies Planned By the Catholic Citizenship Last Weekend Bomb

This past Saturday and Sunday, The Catholic Citizenship together with VoteOnMarriage held Rallies in New Bedford, Barnstable and Springfield to rally what is left of their "troops" to publicly bash Legislators who voted to kill the anti-equality amendment.  These rallies, called by VoteOnMarriage "Rallies for Democracy," amounted to nothing more than a group of losers crying foul play and threatening to demand a recall of any legislator who does not do their bidding on January 2nd.

Each of the rallies had the same agenda and each was set up to mimic the Mitt Romney Rally that took place at the State House two weeks ago.  American flags, a podium, "Let The People Vote" signs on sticks, the singing of the National Anthem (in which our side joined), and the Pledge of Allegiance (in which our side joined).  But there were some important differences.  Instead of Mitt Romney using this stage as his Presidential platform, there was Kris Mineau, President of the Mass Family Institute who, as one observer noted, answered the question of "Is this a Rally about Same-Sex Marriage?" as " No, this is a Rally about Kris Mineau."  We muggled through Kris' tales about HIS service in the Air Force, HIS fighting next friends who lost their lives (to which one gay man yelled back "So did I!!"), HIS being shot down, the reason for HIS limp, how HE swore to defend the Constitution, if HE didn't defend it HE would have been court martialed.  We certainly thank and respect Kris Mineau for his service to our country however, his speeches seemed to be establishing himself for some sort of run for political office.  Remember his equally vile predecessor in MFI, Ron Crews, also made an ill-fated attempt at Congress when he was not successful with DOMA back in 2002.

These rallies also gave a podium space and microphone to an anti-gay state representative who recently lost, a talk show host and a former judge.  The crowd was fed the same rhetoric and mis-information--that the 109 Legislators who voted for recess were not upholding their Oaths of Office.  Our side chanted "Remember 1990, Remember 1990" referring to the Initiative Petition To Give A Woman Reproductive Choice which was "recessed" and subsequently "adjoined" by the Massachusetts Legislature.  In 1990, the Conservatives, undoubtedly many who support VoteOnMarriage now, celebrated this procedural action because it worked in their favor back then. 

In Barnstable, a former judge spoke of behalf of VoteOnMarriage.  In his lengthy speech he felt it necessary to explain the Initiative Petition Process, to explain the recent initiative petition, to take us back to 2002 and Tom Birmingham's adjournment (back then they used the horsemeat/dog food petition to dupe voters to sign the defense of marriage act) and to read interpret parts of our constitution.  Not only did he seem to bore our side but he put our oppostion to speep too.  People don't care and they don't care even moreso now that same-sex marriage has proven to work.  The electoral complacency and voter apathy that  VoteOnMarriage relied so heavily on when it turned a blind eye to the fraud and forgery is now backfiring in a cataclismic proportion.

Thanks to all those who came out in support of Equal Rights.  See the below photos and re-caps of the events.  And remember, there still is one more rally to go.  Saturday December 16th Worcester City Hall 1:30 PM  Be There!

New Bedford Rally 

Pro-Equality attendance outnumbered the bigots by about 20% thanks to the Marriage Equality Coalition of the SouthCoast.  We turned our backs to Former Rep. Peliogolis when he spoke.  The support on the Pro-Equality side was amazing as people pointed out to me that their families were there to support us and one could see that many of our supporters were in fact straight.  I even stood next to a lovely older straight couple who rent their house to Josh Friedes from Freedom to Marry and they were in attendance to support OUR rights.  One of the more humorous moments was when a dog owned by a pro-equality supporter began barking at the moment Kris Mineau took the podium and would not stop until Mineau ended his speech. 

Barnstable Rally

We were only slightly outnumbered in body but not in voice.  A little old lady from VoteOnMarriage (who reminded me of my Auntie Elsie) kept telling the police that VOM had a permit for the Court House and they "did not feel comfortable having us this close to them..."  She kept asking the police to have us moved behind a tree.  Well we did not move, we held our ground and we found out later that VOM did not have a permit, the had "permission" to be there as it was public property.  Lies and deception?  A real shocker.  The Barnstable pro-equality crowd really made me proud.  What a lively bunch which was not afraid to stand up and yell back when they felt it was necessary to defend their rights.  We all got especially loud when a priest spoke and said, "God's love and blessings are conditional."   Humorous note...the VOM people played a recording of the Star Spangled Banner of a man whose voice bore a strong resemblance to Ted Haggard and the tempo was so slow that there was absolutely no way for any of us to keep pace.  Oh and when one of the ministers prayed to God and said, "we look forward to your causing the SJC to rule that the ballot question will go straight to the people for a vote," one of the pro-equality supporters led us all in a chant of "Hold your breath, hold your breath..."

Springfield Rally

Karma actually came out on the pro-equality side and "she was fabulous."  When we arrived the VoteOnMarriage people were propping their "Let The People Vote" signs on the steps of Springfield's impressive City Hall.  They had the electrical cord for the PA system and speakers already snaked through the window to use taxpayer's money (ours too) to fuel their anti-gay marriage PR event (see photos).  Well, Karma showed up, in human form as Don from MassEquality's Springfield affiliate.  Don had pulled a permit for our pro-equality side to be allowed access to the city hall and to be allowed use of our own PA system--Springfield is very strict in requiring these permits for any public demonstration.

Funny how things work out...neither the Catholic Citizenship nor VoteOnMarriage had pulled a permit for the steps or their soundsystem.  So they collected their signs, their banners, their speakers and their supporters and descended the City Hall steps to be banished by police to a tiny park across the street in front of a creche scene.  They weren't even allowed to use their soundsystem.  Not a happy crowd during this joyous holiday season...

The pro-equality side was blessed also with "The Raging Grannies," a group of older political songstresses who led us all in their adapted versions of old favorites like "This Little Light of Mine" as "No More Homophobia...I'm gonna Let It Shine..."  Also, a youth group, Springfield's version of QueerToday showed up with a PA system in which we all were encouraged to and did speak up for Equality.  These youth also led us in a very directed and effective chant, "Teach Your Children Love Not Hate" whenever we saw young children holding signs for VOM--and believe me, there were far too many children across the street.  Good job, Springfield!! 

Tom Lang, Director