No Discrimination in
the Constitution
Received from a
massequality.com member September 21, 2006
Earlier today Massachusetts voters
turned out at polling places around the state and overwhelmingly cast ballots
for pro-equality candidates.
While we at MassEquality were focused on legislative races, Deval Patrick's
victory in Democratic Party primary election for governor marks a new and
exciting era in Massachusetts politics. For the first time in our state's
history, the gubernatorial candidate of a major party fully supports marriage
equality. With fair-minded Worcester Mayor Tim Murray running beside him,
Massachusetts voters will have the opportunity to cast their ballots for an
all-star pro-equality team.
Eight incumbent pro-equality legislators faced opposition in today's balloting,
and all were victorious. Congratulations to Senators Harriette Chandler,
Bob Havern and Dianne Wilkerson, and to Representatives Tony Cabral, Mark
Falzone, Smitty Pignatelli, Marie St. Fleur and Ben Swan. Since the
November 2003 Goodridge ruling, not one single pro-equality legislator has lost
an election.
Today's balloting also featured twelve elections for open seats, nine of which
are now held by retiring anti-equality legislators. Pro-equality
candidates won Democratic primaries in eight of these twelve open seat
elections.
Among the victories are some symbolically important wins. Pro-equality
candidate Steve D'Amico will be on the November ballot to replace the most
vociferous opponent of marriage equality in the legislature, retiring Rep. Phil
Travis.
Along with D'Amico, victorious pro-equality candidates today were nominees for
the House Willie Mae Allen, Stephen DiNatale, Claire Naughton, Sarah Peake,
Rosemary Sandlin and Steven Stat Smith.
Finally, anti-equality legislator Marie Parente lost to challenger John
Fernandes, who pledges to vote against the amendment that would ban same-sex
marriage. This result brings to four the number of incumbent legislators
who have lost elections since the Goodridge decision -- all four anti-equality,
three to pro-equality challengers.
Of course, not every pro-equality candidate emerged victorious today. We
extend our heartfelt thanks to the many pro-equality candidates whose valiant
campaigns this year fell just short.
Thanks also to all of you. Today's pro-equality victories would not have
been possible without your commitment of time, energy and financial resources.
Your support allowed us to once again play a critical role in these elections.
Hundreds of MassEquality members volunteered on campaigns and hundreds more made
donations to pro-equality candidates. We completed more than 10,000 voter
ID and get-out-the-vote telephone calls. And we sent more than 250,000
pieces of mail in support of pro-equality candidates.
With your continued support, we will work even harder over the next six weeks to
elect pro-equality legislators in the November 7th general elections and win the
November 9th legislative vote on a constitutional amendment to ban same-sex
marriage. Working together, we will win.
MassEquality.org was formed as a coalition 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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