Gay Marriage vote

[asterroc]

Well this one slipped in under my radar. The MA state legislature has voted to work on a State Constitutional Amendment to ban gay marriage. They still have to write it, vote for the wording next year, and then have the people vote for it as well, all by the end of 2008, but until then here's some steps you can take.

1. Look up your MA legislators.


2. Look up how they voted.


3. A Y means "Yes, I support bigotry." N means "No, I think homosexuals are human too."


4. Write a letter with the appropriate sentiments to your legislators. Models below. Physical letters may have more impact, but I've had decent luck with emails personally.

To Sentors AGAINST Gay Marriage (Y vote)

Honorable ***,

I am writing to you today regarding the ballot question to amend the Massachusetts state constitution to ban same-sex marriage. I was disappointed to read in the Boston Globe that you voted for the proposed amendment. My name is ****, and I live and vote in your district. I am a **your job**.

I am proud to live in the only state in this Union that supports equal rights for all citizens. The right of all citizens to "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness" was established as unalienable in the Declaration of Independence by our Founding Fathers. Although at the time they may not have meant for it to encompass non-Puritans, non-whites, non-males, or non-straights, our society has since grown to understand that ALL humans should be included, and here in Massachusetts we are living that fact.

I hope that in the future you reconsider your stance on this essential human rights issue. Please listen to the voices of all your constituents, not simply the loudest, or your own personal opinion, and not allow the oppression to continue.

If you have any further questions, please feel free to contact me at the below address. Thank you for your time.

Sincerely,

**Your name**
**address**
**phone**
**email**



To Sentors FOR Gay Marriage (N vote)

Honorable ***,

I am writing to you today regarding the ballot question to amend the Massachusetts state constitution to ban same-sex marriage. I was grateful to read in the Boston Globe that you voted against the proposed amendment. My name is ****, and I live and vote in your district. I am a **your job**.

I am proud to live in the only state in this Union that supports equal rights for all citizens. The right of all citizens to "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness" was established as unalienable in the Declaration of Independence by our Founding Fathers. Although at the time they may not have meant for it to encompass non-Puritans, non-whites, non-males, or non-straights, our society has since grown to understand that ALL humans should be included, and here in Massachusetts we are living that fact.

I hope that in the future you continue to hold your stance on this essential human rights issue. Thank you for listening to the voices of your constituents, including myself. I look forward to continuing to support you in the coming year.

If you have any further questions, please feel free to contact me at the below address. Thank you for your time.

Sincerely,

**Your name**
**address**
**phone**
**email**

Comments

[meredithanne42.livejournal.com]

Faxes and phone calls are good, too.

[galbinus-caeli.livejournal.com]

Paper mail is worth ten times a fax or a phone call, and a hundred times an email. Politicians are old fashioned.

[zandperl.livejournal.com]

Believe it or not, I have gotten personalized responses from my state representative when I have emailed him. True, it might be worth less than a personalized paper reply letter, but I don't mind. ;) Also, I'm significantly more likely to send an email than a physical letter. One email is worth an infinite amount more than a physical letter that doesn't get sent.

[(Anonymous)]

That's good to know--that things are like that on the state level. Unfortunately, it's not generally the case when dealing with the US Congress.

[meredithanne42.livejournal.com]

Sorry--wasn't logged in above!

.

[galbinus-caeli.livejournal.com]

Now that is true.

[meredithanne42.livejournal.com]

Paper mail is good, but--and this is especially true if you're mailing to the US Congress--with the special scanning processes this type of mail goes through now (Anthrax, etc.), it can take a long time to arrive. That's one reason we recommended faxes where I work (an political activism organization)--they're more likely to arrive in a timely manner.

Phone calls can be hit or miss, but if a lot of people are calling about an issue, it's likely to have an impact.

Unfortunately, e-mail is basically worthless to the US Congress, though it seems things are a bit different on the state level.

[zandperl.livejournal.com]

Well, Fresolo (or his office) replied to my email with a one-line "thank you for for your comment and I will take it into consideration". I wouldn't be surprised if it was some low-level lackey and Fresolo himself was at the Inaugural events today - I was there! Make sure I post about it. I didn't see Fresolo, but I shook Patrick's hand.

[meredithanne42.livejournal.com]

Oooh, you went! Can't wait to hear all about it!