Personal stories changed minds
Posted on Jun 15, 2007 at 03:49 pm
The Boston Globe
June 15, 2007
The urgency, and power, of telling your stories, supporting public education efforts, and talking about why marriage matters: Representative Richard J. Ross, a Republican from Wrentham, had a revelation Wednesday afternoon after meeting with a gay Republican who presented him with this challenge: As director of his family's funeral home, Ross had surely treated every family the same, no matter what their race, religion, or sexual orientation. So why would he do anything else in his other job, as a lawmaker? [Link]
June 15, 2007
The urgency, and power, of telling your stories, supporting public education efforts, and talking about why marriage matters: Representative Richard J. Ross, a Republican from Wrentham, had a revelation Wednesday afternoon after meeting with a gay Republican who presented him with this challenge: As director of his family's funeral home, Ross had surely treated every family the same, no matter what their race, religion, or sexual orientation. So why would he do anything else in his other job, as a lawmaker? [Link]
One lawmaker, in her own words, who changed her vote in MA
Posted on Jun 14, 2007 at 03:51 pm
The Boston Globe
June 14, 2007
"For me, what all this comes down to is this: Same gendered couples are taxpaying, law-abiding citizens, who are important community contributors, well-loved and well-respected by their families, friends, neighbors and employers. They deserve and are entitled to the same legal protections enjoyed by all others citizens of our state." [Link]
June 14, 2007
"For me, what all this comes down to is this: Same gendered couples are taxpaying, law-abiding citizens, who are important community contributors, well-loved and well-respected by their families, friends, neighbors and employers. They deserve and are entitled to the same legal protections enjoyed by all others citizens of our state." [Link]
Activists predict progress in NY, CA, WA, this year
Posted on Jan 26, 2007 at 12:55 pm
Washington Blade
January 26, 2007
Evan Wolfson, executive director of Freedom to Marry, said there is also reason for hope in Massachusetts.
Link
January 26, 2007
Evan Wolfson, executive director of Freedom to Marry, said there is also reason for hope in Massachusetts.
"The new legislature has more pro-marriage legislators combined with a new pro-marriage governor. This will allow wiser heads to prevail. If it gets on the ballot, we will defeat it, but I would rather spend our resources for other states in their battles for marriage equality."
Link
Divorcing gay couples create new legal issues
Posted on Sep 25, 2006 at 04:25 pm
San Francisco Gate
September 25, 2006
Gay and lesbian couples in the United States cannot marry anywhere except MA, but many states that legally recognize same-sex couples now send them to divorce court if they break up. The legal questions are new because there was never such disconnect between states and the federal marriage laws until VT instituted civil unions in 2000, and only 113 of those unions have been dissolved. [link]
September 25, 2006
Gay and lesbian couples in the United States cannot marry anywhere except MA, but many states that legally recognize same-sex couples now send them to divorce court if they break up. The legal questions are new because there was never such disconnect between states and the federal marriage laws until VT instituted civil unions in 2000, and only 113 of those unions have been dissolved. [link]
Newspaper Ads
Posted on Jul 24, 2006 at 10:54 am
Fighting Back: Marriage equality backers place newspaper ads
AP Wire
July 24, 2006
Signatories of the ads included the mayors of Boston, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle, Salt Lake City, Providence, R.I., Portland, Ore., West Sacramento, Calif., and Palm Springs, Calif.
[Link]
AP Wire
July 24, 2006
Signatories of the ads included the mayors of Boston, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle, Salt Lake City, Providence, R.I., Portland, Ore., West Sacramento, Calif., and Palm Springs, Calif.
[Link]
Mass. Court Limits Marriage Law
Posted on Mar 30, 2006 at 03:56 pm
The legal bedrock of the court's original decision remained intact -- namely, that Massachusetts gay couples have an unfettered right to marriage. [Link]
Kansas Chief Justice defends the courts and Mass. marriage ruling
Posted on Dec 02, 2005 at 04:50 pm
Associate Press (365Gay.com)
December 2, 2005
Supreme Court Chief Justice Kay McFarland says "people accuse judges and appellate courts throughout the nation of being 'activists' when they don't like rulings in high-profile cases." The job of the court is to "uphold the law, not do what's popular." She says people should know better, and applauds the Mass. court for simply doing its job. [Link]
December 2, 2005
Supreme Court Chief Justice Kay McFarland says "people accuse judges and appellate courts throughout the nation of being 'activists' when they don't like rulings in high-profile cases." The job of the court is to "uphold the law, not do what's popular." She says people should know better, and applauds the Mass. court for simply doing its job. [Link]
Marriage Equality Enters a New Era, but the Fight Continues on
Posted on Sep 20, 2005 at 03:28 pm
105 lawmakers in Mass. have recently moved to the side of fairness helping squash a proposed marriage amendment in the only state, so far, where everyone has the freedom to marry. The California legislature's historical vote said 'yes' to marriage equality. Connecticut created civil unions for same-sex couples, without a court order. Polls are reflecting a shift in public opinion as more people move toward equality and fairness. Freedom to Marry's Evan Wolfson says, "we've entered a new era. It doesn't mean we'll win overnight, but it means we've turned the tide." Though much work remains in the efforts to win marriage equality nationwide, many are busy organizing, volunteering and raising money to help win and defend their right to marry. [Link]
Evan Responds to Gays’ First Marriage Anniversaries
Posted on May 17, 2005 at 12:53 pm
Freedom to Marry head responds to gays' first marriage anniversaries
PlanetOut Network
May 17, 2005
Evan Wolfson is hopeful about the influence of marriages in Massachusetts over time. He says it serves as "[A] standard of equality that others will aspire to and define themselves by," adding it is a "living example of fairness and family values."[Link]
PlanetOut Network
May 17, 2005
Evan Wolfson is hopeful about the influence of marriages in Massachusetts over time. He says it serves as "[A] standard of equality that others will aspire to and define themselves by," adding it is a "living example of fairness and family values."[Link]
Kerry explains support for Massachusetts and Missouri amendments
Posted on Sep 24, 2004 at 12:41 pm
Washington Blade
September 24, 2004
"I was unbriefed and I thought it was the same amendment we had in Massachusetts... I just thought it was a simple prohibition...I just didn't know it went as far as it did and, obviously, I don't support it." [link]
September 24, 2004
"I was unbriefed and I thought it was the same amendment we had in Massachusetts... I just thought it was a simple prohibition...I just didn't know it went as far as it did and, obviously, I don't support it." [link]