Massachusetts Legislators Claim Fraud on Anti-Gay Bill S321

Four Legislators Ask Senate Clerk to Remove Their Names as Co-Sponsors of Senate Bill S321-- Parental Notification (update 06/08/07--1:40 PM ELEVEN legislators have removed their names)

**UPDATE** 6-13-07 Senator Hedlund's Office confirmed that
Senator Hedlund was the "filer" of this bill (by request for a constituent) and his office managed the names of the 25 co-sponsors.  Senator Hedlund's office maintains that there is a record of 25 sponsorship requests directly from legislative offices.  However, Senator Richard Tisei's name appearing was a legitimate error.

Thanks to your quick response to the 100,000 plus person email blast by KnowThyNeighbor asking that you contact the twenty-five legislators whose names appeared as co-sponsors of S321, Senator Richard Tisei, Senator Bruce Tarr, Representative Chris Fallon and Representative Paul Donato have confirmed that they will be asking the Senate Clerk to remove their names as co-sponsors of this anti-gay bill. 

KnowThyNeighbor had a lengthy conversation with Senator Richard Tisei, The Senate Minority Leader, this morning and the Senator is stating that for the record, he did not request that his name be added as a co-sponsor of this bill and that his record on LGBT rights speaks for itself.  Senator Hedlund's aide, Ted Langill, confirmed that they have no email or phone record that confirmed Tisei's request for inclusion in the bill that would require a parental permission slip for teachers to use the words "homosexual, lesbian, transgender" or to discuss the current equal marriage fight or acknowledge the existence of families being headed by same-sex couples.  Senator Tisei also confirmed to KnowThyNeighbor that Rep. Fallon, Senator Tarr and Rep. Donato also found their names erroneously on Bill S321.

Rep. Paul Donato's office made a statement to KnowThyNeighbor that the Representative's name appeared on S321 "without permission" and "no one from Rep. Donato's office contacted Senator Hedlund" requesting that Rep. Donato be included in the co-sponsorship of S321.  So far Senator Hedlund's aide is stating that Senator Tisei is the only co-sponsor without an email or telephone trail.  But just a moment ago in speaking with Rep. Donato himself, KTN was told that the Representative contacted the Speaker of the House and the Senate Clerk and has had his name removed.  Rep. Donato told me emphaticly that he is not a sponsor and when he actually read Bill S321 he found it "disgusting."  Our email from Rep Donato earlier today:

"Tom

I am NOT a supporter of this anti-gay bill and I along with a number of reps and senators have asked

that our names be removed.

We have asked Sen Hedlunds office to investigate as to how our names were listed as co-sponsors

Representative

Paul J. Donato"

Can't the anti-gays get anything passed in Massachusetts without fraud and deception?  So far four legislators allegedly had their "names stolen" or were deceived regarding S321.  I anticipate a few more will state for the record the same thing.  You must continue to call and email the remaining twenty-one legislators and explain the nature of Bill S321.  Assure them that the very intent of this bill, as was confirmed to KTN by the S321's writer, Brian Camenker of MassResistance, was to make sure that this bill was far reaching and would disallow any discussion of LGBT people in the classroom.

Call or Email these Legislators TODAY and demand that they remove their names from Bill S321.

Rep. Jay Barrows (R-Mansfield)
[email protected] 
617 722-2425

Rep. Robert Coughlin (D-Dedham)
now in Gov. Patrick's administration. Call his assistant Sarah MacDonald at 617-788-3649
[email protected]

Rep. Vinny deMacedo (R-Plymouth)
[email protected].us
617 722-2100 or 508 224-7572

Rep. Joseph Driscoll (D-Braintree)
[email protected].ma.us 
617-722-2460

Rep. Paul Frost (R-Auburn)
[email protected]
617-722-2489

Rep. Susan Gifford (R-Wareham)
[email protected].us 
617-722-2090 or 508-295-5999

Rep. William Greene (D-Billerica)
[email protected] .us 
617-722-2210 or 617-722-2215

Rep. Robert Hargraves (R-Groton)
[email protected].ma.us 
(617) 722-2305 or 978-448-5456

Rep. Donald Humason (R-Westfield)
[email protected].us 
617-722-2803 or 413-568-1366

Rep. George Peterson (R-Grafton)
[email protected].ma.us 
617-722-2100 or 508-839-1000

Rep. Elizabeth Poirier (R-North Attleborough)
[email protected].ma.us 
617-722-2976 or 508-695-3296

Rep. Richard Ross (R-Wrentham)
[email protected] 
617-722-2305

Rep. Daniel Webster (R-Hanson)
[email protected].us
617-722-2487 or 781-826-6712

Sen. Scott Brown (R-Wrentham)
[email protected] 
(617) 722-1555

Sen. Robert Hedlund (R-Weymouth)
[email protected]
617-722-1646

Tom Lang, Director