KnowThyNeighbor.org

Mary Z. Connaughton Caught In Bed With Radical Anti-Gay Pro-Family Groups

No Wonder Mary Z. Connaughton Refused to Answer Any Questions From NECN Debate Moderator, Jim Braude About Her Signing the Anti-Gay Marriage Petition. The Massachusetts Family Institute and The Coalition for Marriage and Family Are Supporting and Funding Her...

 

If anything we have learned about the NECN Debate between Massachusetts State Auditor Candidates, Mary Z. Connaughton (Rep) and Suzanne Bump (Dem) is NOT to trust ANYONE running for higher office who cannot answer simple questions about what they stand for and what acts of legislation they have participated in.  Many would like to believe that Mary Z. Connaughton's evasiveness on the question as to her signing an anti-gay marriage petition which would have taken away existing marriages of thousands of gay couples in the Commonwealth and ended all future same gender marriages is somehow NOT calculated.

Many who are not LGBT or were not directly involved in the fight to save marriage equality in Massachusetts may not understand that Mary Connaughton's posturing at the debate referring to equality for all people as "special interest" pretty much put all her cards on the table as being one of those true anti-gay bigots...

But yesterday's surprising response from Kris Mineau, Spokesperson of the Anti-Gay Massachusetts Family Institute View this  and the unprecedented response directed at KnowThyNeighbor from The Coalition for Marriage and Family Action View this  certainly let's us all know EXACTLY who Mary Z. Connaughton is sleeping with.  These two groups rose to defend Mary Z. Connaughton for her act of public legislating against gay people and their families.  These "Pro-Family" Anti-Gays are RAISING MONEY for Mary Z. Connaughton because THEY SEE HER AS ONE OF THEIR OWN!

Now Mary Z. fess up.  Alot of people in the GOP are telling me to lay off you.  That your lack of courage to stand up for your beliefs is somehow courage in and of itself.  Well I am not buying it.  You participated in an act of public legislation and you refuse to talk about it.  You are being supported, lauded and now it seems funded by people and organizations who look at you as an anti-gay hero.  The same people and organizations who called gay people "evil" for wanting equality and for wanting to protect ourselves and our families.  The same people who say "its okay" to allow transgender people to be fired from their jobs or to be thrown out of public accommodations just because an employer or landlord "doesn't like the way they look."  Your lack of responding to Massachusetts voters on whether or not you believe in Equality for All Citizens of the Commonwealth tells us that you DO NOT.

Mary Z. Connaughton, I finally understand what the "Z" stands for..."Zero Tolerance" for people different than you and of course, "Zero Rights for LGBT people."

Tom Lang, Director

 

There's Something About Mary Connaughton...

Mary Connaughton, Republican Candidate for MA Auditor, Signed the Anti-Gay Marriage Petition, ONE Distinction Connaughton Is NOT Telling Voters That Sets Her Aside From Her Opponent, Democrat Suzanne Bump  

So here we have another one.  Just after the primary race where Michael Cahillane (Northwestern MA DA's race) was found on KnowThyNeighbor's List of Signers of the Anti-Gay Marriage Petition, it was brought to my attention that there is another "Bigot in the Woodpile," Mary Connaughton, the GOP's choice for State Auditor. 

Oh, I can just imagine hearing Ms. Connaughton in the press now, "You don't know me," "Oh those liberals go right to the word bigot when they can't think of anything else to say," "I only signed the petition because I feel that the voters should be able to vote on everything (including taking people's rights away)" "I sign every petition put in front of me," "I signed this petition (to end gay marriage) just so it could be voted on and who's to say that I wouldn't have voted against it at the polls?" "I feel that putting this up for a vote (subjecting the gays to a risk of losing marriage rights) would only 'strengthen' the law."  Any one of the above rhetorical excuses, that is, if Mary is going to try to weasel out of this.  

Or we may actually be surprised and hear Mary say what the sponsors of the petition said-- that gays are "the forces of evil!"  I find it funny that one of the people in Mary's video on her website says that Mary will be working like a "caped crusader against the forces of evil..." That's an "odd" coincidence don't you think?  Surprisingly, this is at least an honest reason for signing that anti-gay, anti-equality, anti-American petition.

KnowThyNeighbor has spoken to Mary Connaughton's staff in seven separate phone calls over a two week period asking for a clarification on Mary having signed this anti-gay petition.  Of course the Framingham Town Clerk has verified that there is only one Mary Connaughton living at 1 Tomkins Lane in Framingham and the name on the state database as having signed the petition is indeed the Mary Connaughton who is running for Auditor.  But Connaughton's staff has not provided KTN with a press statement.  

Instead, Mary Connaughton's press man, Mike Flynn, told us that her people "want this to be about what an auditor does NOT about any other issue."  I reminded Mike Flynn that State Auditor is a spring board to Treasurer, Lt. Governor, Senator or any of many other offices Connaughton has in mind.  It is up to us to tell HER what we feel this election is about (not the other way around).

I think that LGBT voters and most Massachusetts voters understand that an Auditor needs to know how to add and subtract, multiply and divide.  Mary Connaughton is doing a good job telling us all that she is the only certified CPA in the race for State Auditor.  Well now its time for us to give her a second badge of distinction.......... 

 Mary Connaughton is the only candidate for Auditor who may indeed be the only "certified bigot" in this race.

Tom Lang, Director

  

KnowThyNeighbor Plays Key Role in Massachusetts District Attorney Race

The Fact That Michael Cahillane, a Candidate for Northwestern Massachusetts District Attorney, Signed The Petition to Allow Voters to Decide Whether or Not to End Marriage Equality, Helped to End His Own Chances To Become District Attorney 

According to The Republican which posted political strategist, Anthony Cignoli's comprehensive post-primary analysis of the Northwestern Massachusetts DA's race, Michael Cahillane's signature on the anti-gay petition of 2005 "became a major issue in that neck of the woods," one that "people will look at down the road" and further referring to this exposure late in a campaign as "political science 101."  I am assuming that Cignoli is referring to the Democratic base and LGBT-based/progressive towns such as Hadley, Amherst, Northampton etc. as taking Michael Cahillane's and his wife's signatures on the anti-marriage equality petition and his subsequent reaction to KnowThyNeighbor's reporting on this as a serious consideration when voting.  Dave Sullivan, Cahillane's opponent won on a large margin.

As a point of clarification here, KnowThyNeighbor.org had no horse in this race.  We were not being pushed by the Dave Sullivan campaign as some commenters on the BayWindows article would like to suggest. KnowThyNeighbor was contacted by a Northwestern Massachusetts voter who was MassEquality's former area leader.  KTN went to MassEquality and the MGLPC and asked if either organization would play a role in educating Northwestern Massachusetts LGBT and allies about this race between Cahillane and Sullivan and provide our community with an endorsement.  Neither MEQ or MGLPC wanted to get involved.  It was important for KnowThyNeighbor to inform the press about the appearance of Cahillane's signature and to contact BayWindows which was key in getting the facts out in providing LGBT with well- balanced interviews of both candidates.

KnowThyNeighbor's work in providing an historic account of anti-gay petitions on a national level is clearly not only creating dialogue but is effecting key races as we have seen here in Massachusetts.  It is understandable that the foes of equality would want to silence us.

Director's Note:  I am very proud of LGBT people and others who believe in equality for all Americans who run through KnowThyNeighbor's lists, decide from whom they will purchase goods and services, have the necessary conversations with signers that they know.  And I am very proud of those LGBT who contact me when they see signers who are running for Local, State and Federal office.  These public candidates owe each and every one of us an explanation for their actions.

Tom Lang, Director

Primary Analysis: Anthony Cignoli on the results of the Northwestern District Attorney race

Massachusetts Gay Lobby Endorses Mitt Romney's Attorney for 2010 House Seat

The Massachusetts Gay and Lesbian Political Caucus (MGLPC), the Leading LGBT Lobby Organization and Key Architect for the Strategy Securing Marriage Equality, Has Endorsed Republican Daniel Winslow (9th Norfolk) And Former Mitt Romney's Chief Legal Counsel Over Democrat Challenger Stanley Nacewicz For the Massachusetts House of Representatives

Led by Co-Chair Arline Isaacson, the MGLPC voted unanimously in last week's annual meeting to endorse the Republican, Daniel Winslow over his Democratic challenger, Stan Nacewicz for the Massachusetts House Seat representing the 9th Norfolk District in Fall 2010. This District seat was formerly held by Richard Ross (R) who vacated it when he succesfully ran for Scott Brown's (R) Massachusetts Senate Seat after Brown's historic victory took him to Washington, DC.

But what makes this endorsement very unusual in LGBT politics is that Dan Winslow was Governor Mitt Romney's Chief Legal Counsel during Massachusetts fight for Marriage Equality (2002-2005).  Romney as we all remember worked with the bigots at the Massachusetts Family Institute as well as the Catholic Church, Black Ministerial Alliance and various and sundry other anti-gay organizations to redact the Goodridge Decision, stop same-sex marriages, and leave gays and lesbian couples, their families and children unprotected in the Commonwealth.

Arline Isaacson touted Republican Dan Winslow for his support of The Goodridge Decision, his zero tolerance of hate crimes and told the Caucus gathering, "Winslow is what we need," in terms of a Republican that understands LGBT issues.  Isaacson also gave a bit of insight into Winslow's history as the Romney attorney that changed our state's marriage license wording from "Bride and Groom" to "Party A and Party B" (more on that to follow). 

But what was interesting was that Isaacson provided the Caucus with Winslow's answers to her standard nine topic questionnaire on civil rights issues that all candidates are given.  Dan Winslow answered "Yes" to all subjects ranging from Gay and Lesbian Civil Rights to HIV Funding to Opposition of DOMA to Choice except one...the Transgender Civil Rights and Hate Crimes Bill. On this topic Winslow's report to Caucus voters was not a "yes" or a "no" but an "asterix."  Isaacson explained that Dan Winslow would like to know more about the Transgender Rights Bill and Transgender people in general before answering that part of Isaacson's questionnaire (a learning opportunity that many LGBT activists and Democratic State leges will not allow Charlie Baker (R) who is running against Deval Patrick (D) for Governor this fall). With this Daniel Winslow still received a unanimous endorsement of the room which included mostly Democrats, Stonewall Democrats, various Democratic delegates, an ACLU laywer and the Chair of the Massachusetts Transgender Political Coalition, Gunner Scott.

So what does KnowThyNeighbor think about this?  I interviewed Dan Winslow extensively after the Caucus endorsement meeting.  On the subject of Marriage Equality post Goodridge, Winslow says that Massachusetts needs legal updates.  Winslow told me that during the Romney days many within the administration insisted that MA marriage licenses continue to read "Bride and Groom" as, according to Winslow, some wanted same gender couples to "have to decide which would be the bride and which would be the groom" or in other words force same-sex couples to humiliate themselves.  Winslow was the one who pushed the "Party A/Party B" nomenclature as one of respect and dignity for same sex couples and a general equality for all parties entering into marriage.  Winslow wanted to make me understand that he has 3 important legal changes to state laws post Goodridge that to him are of the utmost urgency.  One, changes to current birth certificates which would recognize same sex couples.  Two, the inclusion of "civil unions" and "domestic partnerships" as impediments to MA marriages (currently, two people of the same gender could be married to one another in MA while being part of a dom partnership in Washington State to another person).  And Three, that MA courts must retain the jurisdiction of divorce when it comes to our same-sex marriages.

On the important topic of Transgender Rights and the current bill that had the support of the Democrat Controlled House and Senate yet failed to be voted on in this past session, Dan Winslow had some comments.  He believes that for him Transgender people's inclusion in the Hate Crimes portion as well as workplace and housing protection is a no brainer.  On the bill itself which seems to be confusing many, he welcomes dialogue and guarantees LGBT activists "constructive dialogue" on the subject. 

KnowThyNeighbor's take on Dan Winslow is positive, very positive, and a good choice for endorsement. Doors are open to us.  Maybe we have been forced for so long into sitting in the waiting area that we don't know when to stand up and walk into the room.

Tom Lang, Director of KnowThyNeighbor.org

Log Cabin Republican Lawsuit a Success--Don't Ask Don't Tell Unconstitutional

A very good day is when the courts of the United States of America recognize that LGBT Americans may partake in the BIRTHRIGHT that all other American citizens are afforded.  Thank you goes to the Log Cabin Republicans for insisting that this fight for justice be taken to the United States District Court and for taking leadership when so many naysayers among our so-called ranks of LGBT "leaders" would hold us back.  We honor ALL men and women in our armed services who risk their lives every day for the freedoms many of us take for granted.  This ruling respects and dignifies their service to our country. Tom Lang, Director of KnowThyNeighbor Statement on Log Cabin Republicans v. United States Ruling

(Washington, DC) - Log Cabin Republicans celebrates the decision by a United States District Court judge to overturn "Don't Ask, Don't" Tell as an unconstitutional violation of servicemembers' rights to free speech and due process.   "As an American, a veteran and an Army reserve officer, I am proud the court ruled that the arcane Don't Ask Don't Tell statute violates the Constitution," said Log Cabin Republicans Executive Director R. Clarke Cooper.  "Today, the ruling is not just a win for Log Cabin Republican servicemembers, but all American servicemembers."  "We are delighted with the court's ruling in favor of Log Cabin Republicans in this important case.  The court's opinion finds that "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" is unconstitutional, and the court will issue a permanent injunction preventing the government from further enforcement of this unconstitutional statute," said Dan Woods, lead attorney for the case and partner at White & Case. "This is a major victory in the fight for equality and means that military service will be available to all Americans, regardless of their sexual orientation."  Log Cabin Republicans brought this suit in October 2004.  The case went to trial in July 2010 before the United States District Court of the Central District of California and was decided by Judge Virginia A. Phillips. Judge Phillips ruling can be found here.

Candidate for District Attorney, Michael Cahillane, Signer of Anti-Gay Petition

The Names of Michael Cahillane, Candidate for Northwestern Massachusetts District Attorney, and Christine Cahillane, His Wife, Appear on the State Database at KnowThyNeighbor.org as Signers of the Massachusetts Anti-Gay Marriage Petition  

A quick view of the KnowThyNeighbor.org website showing the 143,000 certified signers of the 2005 VoteOnMarriage.org Petition which would have, if successful at ballot, retracted the marriages of over 12,000 couples and ended the Goodridge Decision in Massachusetts revealed the names of candidate for District Attorney, Michael Cahillane and his wife, Christine.

KnowThyNeighbor.org which to date lists the names of close to 1 million signers of anti-gay petitions nationwide and was responsible for the Supreme Court Challenge of this strategy known as Doe vs. Reed in Washington State (June of 2010) intends to place on the internet the state databases of signers of all anti-gay petitions.  Tom Lang, KnowThyNeighbor.org's Co-Director, has seen his organization's effect in promoting the necessary conversations on the important topic of human rights in Massachusetts, Florida, Arkansas and Washington.  "We know these conversations are happening and we know the impact they are having on LGBT Rights nationwide because of our strategy," says Lang.

The appearance of the name of a Candidate for District Attorney, Michael Cahillane, should open the conversation as to his opinion of LGBT citizens of the Commonwealth and whether or not LGBT people should have all the rights and protections afforded to heterosexual citizens.  According to the Editor and Chief of the Daily Hampshire Gazette, Larry Parnass, the Cahillane people have known about this finding by district residents for "over two months" but have yet to provide an opinion to the press one way or another.

KnowThyNeighbor.org reminds readers that there was fraud perpetrated by VoteOnMarriage.org volunteers as well as the paid signature gatherers employed by them.  But it is important to note that Cahillane being a lawyer and one who is running for District Attorney should most certainly be able to tell the press and the voters of the Northwestern District whether or not he (and his wife) were duped into signing, had their signatures stolen or if they signed this petition willingly and knowingly and whether he considers LGBT people as equal human beings.  It should not be that difficult for Mr. Cahillane to provide a response.

The Northwestern District of Massachusetts consists of Hampshire County with such towns as Amherst, Northampton, South Hadley and Cummington; Franklin County with such towns as Charlemont, Conway, Gill, Northfield and Sunderland and Worcester County with the only town there of Athol.

Michael Cahillane's challenger is Dave Sullivan who was unable to be reached at this time though KnowThyNeighbor.org looks forward to his and Cahillane's responses.  KnowThyNeighbor.org believes that LGBT people should know where they stand with a District Attorney as their lives may depend on it.

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UPDATE:  For Interviews of Massachusetts Northwest District Candidates for District Attorney, Michael Cahillane and Dave Sullivan see Hannah Clay Wareham's Extensive Report from BayWindows HERE

UPDATE Sept 14, 2010:  Dave Sullivan Wins Primary Election for District Attorney Over Michael Cahillane see article here

 

KnowThyNeighbor Demands Names of "Don't Ask Don't Tell" Survey Creators

Now That Pentagon Spokesperson, Geoff Morrell, Has Disclosed The Name of the Private Contractor, Westat, Which Created the Bias-Baiting Language in The Don't Ask Don't Tell Survey, KnowThyNeighbor is Asking for the Names of the "Professionals at Westat" Who Developed These Questions  

While Servicemembers Legal Defense Network Executive Director Aubrey Sarvis warns LGBT servicemembers that the truly inflammatory and bias-baiting language in the DADT study sent out to 400K service members last week may in fact be the cause of privacy concerns and she is asking that they do not participate in the survey, KnowThyNeighbor is taking a different approach.

KnowThyNeighbor is demanding to know the names of all individuals involved in the composing of the survey--all those involved in the creation of these questions including the privately contracted Westat employees, members of the Pentagon Working Group (as it is being called) and anyone else who had actual "hands on" involvement with the wording, choice and/or vetting of these questions. KnowThyNeighbor is also demanding to know the process in selecting the criteria used to formulate these bias-baiting questions.  This process affecting a public policy and the lives of, for now, voiceless American heroes who risk their lives for this country needs to be remain in the public's eye and in the public realm. 

Geoff Morrell, Pentagon spokesperson, admitted that No LGBT Advocacy Groups were consulted in the process of question selection in this DADT Survey and he assures the public and the servicemen and women participating in the survey (400,000 to be exact) that any perceived biases in the survey were only due diligence "to help the military determine what adjustments might be necessary 'when DADT is repealed.'"  But before the surveys to the 400,000 participants have been returned, Morell and the Pentagon have already suggested the segregation of troops "in order to preserve the privacy and modesty of heterosexual service members in group showers and barracks."  So it seems this survey already "skewed" to a foregone conclusion regarding troop segregation based solely on the nature of the questions themselves.

Why does KnowThyNeighbor want the names of the individuals involved with and responsible for the DADT Survey Creation?  To run these names against party affiliation databases, campaign contribution databases, public affiliations, known religious affiliations, associations and connections, etc.  Too many brave men and women serving this country have been kept silent far too long, being told that you can die for this country but don't you dare tell anyone who you love.  And now they are being dragged through this disgusting process, further demeaned by the nature of the questions of this "survey"  and treated once again as sub-human, morally corrupt animals.  Well, it is time to know who is responsible.

Tom Lang, Director of KnowThyNeighbor

PRESS RELEASE - Supreme Court Defends KnowThyNeighbor.org’s Right to Publish Petition Information Online

PRESS RELEASE - For Immediate Release

Contacts:

Tom Lang, Co-Director, KnowThyNeighbor.org - (978) 335-0477 / [email protected]

Aaron Toleos, Co-Director, KnowThyNeighbor.org - (978) 821-4620 / [email protected]

Brian Murphy, Director, Whosigned.org - (206) 313-1175 / [email protected]

Supreme Court Defends KnowThyNeighbor.org’s Right to Publish Petition Information Online

Essex, MA, June 24, 2010 -- KnowThyNeighbor.org, the national gay rights organization known for publishing online the names of close to a million anti-gay petition signers, celebrates a major victory in today's Doe v. Reed ruling by the US Supreme Court.  The Supreme Court ruled 8-1 that petition signers do NOT have a constitutional right to keep their identities private.

“Signing a petition in public is a powerful and meaningful act. Signing your name in secret means nothing,” says Aaron Toleos, co-director of KnowThyNeighbor.org. “Today the Supreme Court affirmed the idea that a petition derives its legitimacy from the very fact that it is a public document.”

Toleos believes that when petitions deal with controversial issues, it is especially important that the information remain public. "It is the cases where the most important issues are at stake, like the rights of same-sex couples and their children to be equally protected by our laws, that the process should be held to the highest standard,” says Toleos.  “Secreting the names of signers in these cases just makes it more likely that fraud will occur and that people will sign thoughtlessly. Hiding public information from the public is exactly what should not happen in these situations."

KnowThyNeighbor.org has uncovered substantial amounts of petition fraud through its work. In Massachusetts, for example, thousands of signatures were identified as being either stolen through bait-and-switch techniques or forged outright, and the state launched both civil and criminal investigations.

The Doe v. Reed case resulted from the work of KnowThyNeighbor.org -- along with local partner WhoSigned.org – to oppose a state referendum aimed at overturning a domestic partnership law in Washington. KnowThyNeighbor.org has previously partnered with churches and other local organizations to publish anti-gay petitioner information in Oregon, Arkansas, Florida, and Massachusetts.

KnowThyNeighbor.org was founded in 2005 by Tom Lang, a gay married Republican, and Aaron Toleos, a straight married Democrat, with the goal of encouraging civil, respectful, and meaningful dialogue between citizens on both sides of gay rights issues.

KnowThyNeighbor Victory in SCOTUS Doe vs. Reed

Today's Supreme Court Ruling Against Doe v Reed Marks a Major Victory for KnowThyNeighbor And Exemplifies The Importance of Individual Activism in the Fight for Equality

The Supreme Court of the United States in an 8-1 Ruling AGAINST Doe v Reed on count 1, 1st Amendment Challenge to KnowThyNeighbor's Strategy of posting the names of signers of anti-gay ballot initiatives online (Note: these names are part of the public record and before KTN came along were released to anyone who asked).  So in a nut shell, all but Justice Clarence Thomas agreed that KnowThyNeighbor has every right to post the names and that LGBT people's right to access of the 1st Amendment is not trumped by the fact that some anti-gay people feel uncomfortable that we know who they are.

I will let the major blogs dissect this victory for LGBT on the national level and I will even let the major LGBT organizations (many of which were against KTN) claim victory for themselves as the heart of the political machine needs to continue to pump regularly.  But this blog post needs to remind LGBT people and other activists fighting for their place at this great American table, that once again "one or two" people can make a difference and produce change because of personal activism.

What led to Doe v Reed was a road tougher than KnowThyNeighbor has ever experienced.  The anti-gay organizations such as Protect Marriage Washington blamed us for scaring signers away from participating in the Referendum 71 Ballot Initiative while the gay activists such as Joe Mirabella and Josh Friedes blamed us for causing more people to sign. This strange dichotomized contradiction pointed more to what was behind these organizations and how KnowThyNeighbor threatened their "campaigns" than to our quantitative effect one way or the other on the signature gathering process in Washington.  

The value and importance of KnowThyNeighbor's success in Washington State can be seen in recent polling data indicating a rise by 15% in the public's acceptance of same sex relationships in that state. Of course KnowThyNeighbor's work was not the only factor responsible for this but the foundation of such a move in polls is directly in result of the continued conversation about our lives, our place, our families, our children.  And KnowThyNeighbor with the announcement of our posting of names before the Referendum 71 Campaign, the conversation about the importance of our strategy during the campaign, the lower court lawsuits, Doe v Reed, the integrity of the petition process and the future "as applied" challenges (count 2 Doe v Reed) in lower court have kept the conversation going in Washington and on a national level since June of 2009 in news media, blogs and in political satire such as The Colbert Report.  A crucial part of the success of our side in the Referendum 71 Campaign.

All of this and KnowThyNeighbor.org has not even done anything yet.  All we did was make a public statement that we would like a copy of a public record in Washington State which in the past history of Washington had always been released to the public.  

But this time something was different, we were gay and were part of the minority that has been the victim over and over again.  This caused our oppressors to spend countless dollars to try to stop us and caused LGBT leaders such as Josh Friedes to once again condemn us because he and many in Gay Inc. find it so difficult to fight for our Equality without shame.  But the biggest surprise was Pam Spaulding whose bi-coastal activist "Blender" Lurleen (aka Laurel of BlueMassGroup.com in MA) could not embrace activism right out of her own Dallas Principles but instead was used as a messaging center for a virtual campaign that like Maine would have failed to reach the masses if KnowThyNeighbor had not been involved.

But there were people that "got it" and got it they did.  Brian Murphy of WhoSigned.org in Washington who is the reason why we made a move on that state.  Arline Isaacson of the Massachusetts Gay and Lesbian Political Caucus who provided insight and provided an MGLPC Amicus Brief which was included in the SCOTUS Decision.  GLAD, Lambda Legal, HRC, the Task Force, National Center for Lesbian Rights which provided an Amicus that called out by name KnowThyNeighbor's strategy as one of the only ways LGBT people can defend themselves against such initiative petitions, the various AG's offices nationwide for their joint Amicus, the other 28 entities and coalitions that supported our strategy, and of course the Supreme Court Justices whose questioning of the anti-gays in the opening arguments gave proof positive that these Justices, including Justice Scalia, searched KnowThyNeighbor's website in archive to understand our integrity and commitment to open, civil and respectful dialogue on LGBT Rights. 

KnowThyNeighbor.org is assured that the lower courts will reject Count 2 of Doe v Reed, the "As Applied" Challenge and the 1st Amendment Rights of both sides of LGBT Equality will be secured. KnowThyNeighbor will begin processing the names of the signers of Referendum 71 to provide the public with access to this public database in a fully searchable format as soon as they are released by the Secretary of State of Washington.  Currently KnowThyNeighbor.org lists the names of 850,000 signers of anti-gay referendums in Massachusetts, Florida and Arkansas. 

Tom Lang, Co-Director

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"There are laws against threats and intimidation; and harsh criticism, short of unlawful action, is a price our people have traditionally been willing to pay for self-governance. Requiring people to stand up in public for their political acts fosters civic courage, without which democracy is doomed. For my part, I do not look forward to a society which, thanks to theSupreme Court, campaigns anonymously (McIntyre) and even exercises the direct democracy of initiative and referendum hidden from public scrutiny and protected from the accountability of criticism. This does not resemble the Home of the Brave."

 

Antonin Scalia, Doe v. Reed

GOP's Charlie Baker: The Result of "40 Years of Progress" at Boston Gay Pride

On Saturday June 12th, Charlie Baker Will Become The First Republican Gubernatorial Candidate to March in Boston's Gay Pride Parade

You heard it folks.  Massachusetts again making history in the fight for full LGBT equality.  On Saturday, Massachusetts Republican Gubernatorial Candidate Charlie Baker and running mate Richard Tisei will march in Boston Pride.  Marking the first time ever that a Republican candidate for Governor will join LGBT people in Boston Pride.

Baker who chose openly gay, Senate Minority Leader, Richard Tisei as his choice for Lt. Governor will be marching not only alongside supporters but Baker's gay brother will join the Republican candidate.  Tisei's partner of 16 years, Bernie Starr will also be marching.  

Charlie Baker supports Marriage Equality, has committed to not supporting any sort of reattempt to derail The Goodridge Decision by ballot initiative (in 2012) and chose a running mate who is a co-sponsor of the Transgender Right Bill currently in the State house.

Of concern to the LGBT community was Baker's recent lack of support for this Transgender Rights Bill and that he referred to it as "The Bathroom Bill" which angered LGBT activists around the Commonwealth. KnowThyNeighbor has been publicly critical of Baker regarding this.  We need to remember that the path to Marriage Equality was not an easy one.   It required much education, visibility and meaningful dialogue by and about lesbians and gays, our families and our lives.  We still are not protected Federally.  

Likewise, education about transgender people must also take place.  It needs to start first with ourselves.  How many people out there, gay or straight have met and held a conversation with a transgender person?  It was in 2005 that a very public crisis occurred on the KnowThyNeighbor blogs with one of our commenters who self identified as transgender.  I can speak about this because this person did so also in a public manner.  She quite possibly was suggesting that she may do herself harm. Not only did I research to find out this frequent commenter's identity, but I contacted her and had quite an enlightening conversation about her life and what she was going through.  I also booked a session with a clinical psychiatrist for myself in which I asked this psychiatrist questions about transgendered people.  I did this to educate myself and try to understand the humanity behind sexual identity issues. This small step that I took answered so many questions for me and made me quickly realize how important it is that we accept and reachout to our fellow transgenders. 

I had to go through an educational process.  Mine was out of what I perceived as necessity.  Others will have to be educated by us--just as we did and continue to do with marriage equality.  To this day and to my knowledge, no one from MassEquality or the Massachusetts Transgender Political Coalition has reached out to Charlie Baker on the Transgender Bill.  Maybe it's about time?

I do know that MassEquality will be announcing its endorsement of Deval Patrick for Re-election as Governor on Saturday at Pride.  This decision coming just after MassEquality heard that Republican Charlie Baker would be marching.  The Transgender Rights Bill being the only thing that separates the two candidates.  But I have a few questions...Why has the Transgender Rights Bill not moved in THREE years in this Democrat Super Majority Legislature with enough Democrat support to carry the votes if they had the courage to put it to a vote?  And with Deval Patrick as current Governor

Because the Democrats are afraid of progressing this bill for fear of losing some voters.  So it seems that quite a few Democrats are using transgender people pretty much the same way that Anti-Gay Republican activists such as Kris Mineau are using transgender people...And Charlie Baker's current lack of support for this bill is providing great cover to those particular Democrats (and MassEquality)!

But back to Pride.  Boston Pride's Theme this Year is "40 Years of Progress."  Charlie Baker and Richard Tisei, the men, represent this progress.  And their marching in this year's Pride Parade shows us just how much progress we have ALL made.   

Tom Lang, Director

KnowThyNeighbor.org