VICTORY! 3 of 3 gay-friendly candidates elected in Mass. Special Election!

[Ian David]

Don't forget, we still have an April 12th General Election! Your help is still needed!

From: MassEquality Update Team <[e-mail]>
Date: Tue, 15 Mar 2005
Subject: Election Victories—3 for 3!

Today marks another historic day in the battle to preserve equal marriage rights.

Citizens in Pittsfield and Boston (and parts of Brookline and Milton) cast votes in three special election primaries to fill open seats in the legislature. In all three districts, voters selected pro-equality candidates and rejected those who stood for discrimination. These primary elections all but guarantee that three new supporters of marriage equality will take the seats of recently-retired state legislators who strenuously opposed equal marriage rights—former House Speaker Tom Finneran, and former Representatives Brian Golden and Peter Larkin.

In the race to replace Tom Finneran, Linda Dorcena Forry, the MassEquality-endorsed candidate, defeated her rivals in the race, three of whom argued in favor of the discriminatory constitutional amendment. Dorcena Forry, a housing specialist with the City of Boston, will be unopposed in the April 12 general election.

In the race to represent Allston, Brighton and parts of Brookline, community leader Mike Moran won a four-candidate primary. While the MassEquality-endorsed candidate Tim Schofield did not prevail, Moran is strongly committed to protecting equal marriage rights. He will face off against Tom O'Brien, an unenrolled candidate who also supports marriage equality, in the general election.

In the Pittsfield election -- one in which all three Democrats supported marriage equality – former Pittsfield City Solicitor Chris Speranzo prevailed in the Democratic primary. In the general election, it appears he will face Terry Kinnas, a backer of the discriminatory amendment. Because Pittsfield voters are overwhelmingly Democratic, it is expected that Speranzo will win easily on April 12.

These election results are important for several reasons. First, they bring us closer to the 100 votes we need to defeat the discriminatory amendment. While we cannot count 100 legislative supporters, we are moving in the right direction. Second, they show once again that voters in Massachusetts will back good candidates who stand for equality. In each of these races, pro-equality candidates highlighted their support for equal marriage rights, while anti-equality candidates largely downplayed their positions. Clearly, we are making progress.

You, our MassEquality members, made a tremendous difference in these elections. Over the last week, you made over 3,000 telephone calls to voters. Dozens of you walked door-to-door in support of the MassEquality-endorsed candidates, and dozens more volunteered today to help candidates get out the vote. Many contributed to pro-equality candidates—the $25, $50, and $100 gifts added up and made a huge impact. Special thanks go to MassEquality’s top-notch political director Marc Solomon and field coordinator Amy Mello. Together, the tireless efforts of our volunteers, the guidance of our staff, and the financial support of our members have made MassEquality a leading political force in Massachusetts. As a result, we are in an even stronger position to defend equal marriage rights.

We at MassEquality want to thank all of the candidates who ran for office today who stood strongly for equality. Stacey Monahan of Dorchester, district chief of staff for Congressman Stephen Lynch, has been a stalwart supporter of equality throughout the campaign and her career. Openly-gay candidate Tim Schofield, of Brighton, withstood homophobic attacks but never shied away from personalizing the issue on the campaign trail. Joe Walsh, a community leader also from Brighton, did not waver in his commitment to equal marriage rights. Pittsfield City Councilors Pam Malumphy and Matt Kerwood, and Rhonda Serre, staff person to Congressman John Olver, also could not have been any more committed in their support.

While we should celebrate today, we must not underestimate the challenges before us. Governor Romney, President Bush, the leadership of the Catholic Church, and far-right organizations want nothing more than to take away the right of same-sex couples to marry in Massachusetts. Between now and the next Constitutional Convention, we need you more than ever. We must write, meet with, and do everything within our power to persuade legislators who last year voted for the discriminatory amendment to re-consider their positions. We must also continue to identify additional supporters of equal marriage rights to do the same. Please pass this message of electoral good news along to your friends and family members and urge them to contribute to, or take action with, MassEquality today.

Please continue to be involved. Working hard, together, I believe we can defeat the discriminatory constitutional amendment and preserve equal marriage rights for same-sex couples for the first time in our country’s history. But make no mistake, it will continue to take hard work.

Thank you very much for everything.

Sincerely,

Marty Rouse
Campaign Director
MassEquality

P.S. Our work surrounding these special elections was very costly. The pay-off was enormous, but we need your continued financial support to carry on. Please help us defray these costs by making a gift of $25, $50, $100, or $250 today. To contribute online, please visit https://host28.websitesource.com/massequality/don.php
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MassEquality.org is dedicated to ensuring that the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court decision on marriage equality is upheld, and that any anti-gay amendment or legislation is defeated.

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[blogbear]

1. Great news..

and I hope that after gay marital rights, etc are achieved in Massachusetts and elsewhere that a democratic underground railroad will make it through and into those red states like where I'm at and rescue us folks who didn't and don't want it this way here!

[mitchtv]

5. when I win the Super Lotto

The first foundation I form will be to relocate gays from the flyover states.My partner and I are older and have lived under both systems. Pre Brown Act(CA) when bars were raided and post AB205(CA Domestic Partners)> It is wonderful to go into a store with Mr. and not be afraid to say things like "We want this or that" (especially when ordering a king size bed); and not have to worry about my pronouns. 'We' is a dead giveaway.THERE IS STILL MUCH TO BE DONE, but you guys will have a future.

[NickofTime]

2. Equal Marriage Rights for ALL

Everyone ought to be able enter into a marriage, as and how they see fit. That's a non-negotiable core value of our party.

[w4rma]

3. With *one* other person at any time, of course. (nt)

[sniffa]

4. speak for yourseLf

this is wonderfuL news. my state keeps getting more LiberaL. :D

[Dark]

6. Linda Forry defeated several rivals?

So, did the 'conservative' vote just get split among her rivals, allowing her to get a majority?