Catholic Church of Mass Uses Fraud To Their Benefit

Fox News did their report on the "bait and switch" tactics used by the signature gatherers paid for by the Mass "Family" Institute. Their report focused on a signature gatherer from Florida who was taught how to "bait and switch" by the company. Fox News set her up in front of a supermarket to show how easy it is to make people sign two petitions without them even knowing what they were signing.

Some people (the same "Christians") would accuse the people who signed the petitions as being at fault because "Hey they didn't look to see what they were signing" However, isn't it the same Christian Right who are all about "trusting" people and trying to look for the "good" in people? About leading by example with high morals? If they think they are right why all the deception?

Fox News interviewed some woman from the Mass "Family" Institute. She was bewildered to know that the company they hired to gather the signatures hired another company who hired another company who hired the workers. MFI's mantra "We were told by several people who used the signature gathering company that they were reputable". Yeah, who told you that, the GOP in Ohio? Apparently the company that Mass Family hired has been dogged all over the country with accusations of fraud, but did the MFI do research on the company they paid thousands of dollars to???? No.

Let me leave you with this question: How disgusting is it that the Catholic Church of Massachusetts and a supposedly family organization (Mass Family Institute) are using fraud to instill discrimination into our constitution? What happened to all the volunteers they said they had? It's amazing how Christlike these "Christians" really are.

Back Under A Rock

While celebrating this 3rd Anniversary, I couldn't help but reminisce about all the gay haters who "have left the building" (no, they're not dead, just gone from the Massachusetts anti-gay bandwagon):

• J. Edward Pawlick: The man who started MassNews disappeared from practically everywhere. His Massnews website is out of commission and although his wife's anti-gay website is still up, it hasn't been updated in years. It says they are still waiting for their "Bill of Address" to be voted on. (On a side note, this "Bill of Address" is Brian Camenker's claim to fame since that is the reason he started the Article 8 Alliance, to remove the judges, when that never happened they changed the name to Massresistance). Ms. Massresistance used to also write for this "conservative" website.

• Ron Crews: The head of the Mass Institute Against Gays A.K.A. Mass "Family" Institute before Kris "My marriage is affected by same sex couples marrying" Mineau, left the state to go back down south after a failed attempt to win a seat in the Massachusetts Legislature. He was one of the many Republicans then-Governor Romney boosted to initially run for office before Romney left the Massachusetts GOP in the dust (all the Republicans lost miserably because Romney became "Box-office poison") .
  
• Laurie Letourneau: This angry woman threatened to leave the State if same sex couples started getting married. They did and she did, good riddance. She also received the MFI Citizenship award.

• Larry Cirignano: He was part of the Vote On Marriage group until he physically attacked a young woman at a rally in Worcester. He also led the Catholic Citizenship in Boston. He has now been relocated to Virginia but comes back to Massachusetts for court hearings and anti-gay activism.

Actually, looking back on them all, most of them were involved with the Massachusetts Institute Against Gays. They seem to go through more members than Imelda Marcos went through shoes. This must be some kind of anti-marriage curse. Who will it strike next?

Can You Have a Civil Dialogue When They're Trying to Take Away Your Civil Rights?

I first heard about it over at the Blue Mass Group then I got my own email: the anti-gay, anti-family Mass "Family" Institute is calling for dialogue on Marriage Equality:

Massachusetts Family Institute (MFI) announced an initiative this week that seeks to build mutual respect and dialogue between those who support and those who oppose same sex marriage in Massachusetts.

Advocates for same sex marriage routinely have called supporters of the marriage amendment hateful and bigoted, while amendment supporters say they are simply following the constitutional process to have their voice heard on what they view as an important social issue.

MFI and VoteOnMarriage.org - the ballot question committee seeking to advance the Massachusetts marriage amendment - have endeavored to advance a campaign that refrains from name calling and does not denigrate individuals. However, as many political pundits predict, the same sex marriage debate, much like the abortion debate, will be with us for decades and MFI sees a need and an opportunity to work with leaders on all sides to promote justice in the way we discuss our differences.

"The tone and rhetoric around this public policy issue have escalated to a frenzied level, too often with shouting that does nothing to promote understanding. Denouncing individuals as bigots does not bring people with honest differences together. We would like to work with our opponents to raise the quality of the dialogue," said Kris Mineau, president, Massachusetts Family Institute and spokesman, VoteOnMarrige.org

In the coming months, MFI will convene forums and develop policy recommendations on ways to build bridges and promote positive dialogue on the very real and honest differences both sides espouse relative to same sex marriage and its implications on social policy in the Commonwealth.

Even as this initiative beings to take shape, MFI and VoteOnMarriage.org will continue to urge supporters of the marriage amendment to be respectful of human differences and always maintain a dialogue that affirms the dignity of every person.

"I have come to know my political opponent Marc Solomon, executive director of MassEquality as a gentleman who has strong personal convictions," Mineau added. "I believe that if asked he would come to the table in good faith to advance meaningful dialogue that his supporters also would embrace - today begins the process of asking."

What comes to mind first is how can we have mutal respect for these people who are trying to take away our civil rights? Secondly all I can think of are the times when MFI and its cohorts have "endeavored to advance a campaign that includes name calling and denigrates a whole group". It's obvious that they are now trying to appeal to the voters out there and tell them "We're nice people, we are being called bigots and hateful. We are victims, support us" Well, lest we forget the people who are involved with MFI":

Kris Mineau: "This is affecting me immediately because my children are in conflict. It's putting my children in turmoil," said Kris Mineau,"I've always argued that from May 17 onward, my heterosexual marriage was no longer unique, no longer a standard for the culture, and that's an affront to me and it grieves me."

Evelyn Reilly, MFI's public policy director, said on New England Cable News that she believes gay people are mentally ill.

Roberto Miranda, the leader of Vote on Marriage, likened marriage equality in Massachusetts to the terrorist attacks in New York on Sept. 11th. He also called homosexuality a virus.

Larry Cirignano, the leader of the Catholic Citizenship group and one of the people who headed up the Vote On Marriage signature drive physically attacked a woman who was carrying a sign for Marriage Equality.

Blue Mass Group is also taking the first shot at civil dialogue by asking Kris Mineau to renounce the statements made by Roberto Miranda, (who was standing in the aisle shouting and yelling at us on the Marriage Equality side of the Gardner Auditorium while everyone looked on). I can't wait to see their response.

Clash of the Titans

Article 8 listed a "press release" on their website. Although it's a bit odd since the press release is dated July 16th but it was released today. In it, this "Pro-family" group (Article 8) attacks the amendment that the other "Pro-family" group (Mass "Family" Institute) is putting forth to the commonwealth.
My question is who's more "Pro-family"?

On one side we have the "Pro-family" Article 8 who is outraged that the new amendment would confirm that the Goodrich decision is valid (remember they still put marriage in quotes "" because they don't believe that it is actually going on) They want to remove the four judges and have them replaced with activist judges that follow Article 8's rules. Furthermore, they have a list of local AND national groups on their side. Take a look:

Massachusetts:
Article 8 Alliance
Parents' Rights Coalition
CPF / The Fatherhood Coalition
Families for Truth (Bedford/Carlisle/Chelmsford/Groton/Westford)
Mothers Against Pedophilia
(Individuals)
John R. Diggs, Jr., M.D.
R. T. Neary, B.S., M.Ed., M.A.

National:
Abiding Truth Ministries
American Family Association of Mississippi
American Family Association of Missouri
American Family Association of Pennsylvania
Americans for Truth
Campaign for California Families
Christian Education Awareness Network (CEANet)
Eagle Forum Texas
Illinois Family Institute
Mission America
Traditional Values Coalition

Can you believe the wackos on the list? They forgot the KKK. And look at the groups! Brian Camenker is the head of the first two under Massachusetts. I am so glad that Illinois Family Institute is taking a stand on an issue in MY state. I always think we should have people from OTHER states determine what things go on here.

Now, on the other side you have the Mass "Family" Institute who is advocating a new amendment that will define marriage as being one man and one woman after a certain time, so my marriage to my husband will be valid, however, if a gay couple wants to marry after this amendment goes through they can't. Make sense? Me neither.

I must admit that Massfamily does say that they care about other relationships that could benefit from “reciprocal beneficiary” legislation. (i.e., a son with a dependent mother, two elderly sisters), however, they don't care enough to work on it first. Banning same sex couples from marrying is more important than Aunt Sally and Aunt Evelyn get benefits to care for themselves. They will advocate for their benefits after they've removed them from the gays.

In the end, both of these groups are proclaiming that they are "Pro-family" yet they are acting in conflicting ways. My opinion: neither are "Pro-family", they are pro-prejudice.

Hypocrites!

The Boston Globe has an article about The Mass "Family" Institute's latest foray into discrimination against families. Today I will only dwell on one portion of the Mass "Family" Institute's quest for bigotry in the Mass Constitution. They say:

Civil Unions are discriminatory in providing special privileges based on the sexual preference of a small, vocal minority. There are many people with valid needs in the Commonwealth who have dependent relationships that are not based on sexual preference, such as a son taking care of his ailing mother, or two elderly sisters living together. The needs of any two dependents would be best addressed through reciprocal benefits legislation, that does not discriminate against dependent couples that are not homosexual.

So supposedly, they and Gov. Romney are so concerned about other dependent relationships that they want to make sure that these "affected groups" receive reciprocal benefits and that granting civil unions (marriage lite) is discriminatory against these groups. My questions:

IF THEY ARE SO CONCERNED ABOUT DEPENDENT RELATIONSHIPS WHY AREN'T THEY PROPOSING LEGISLATION NOW? WHY WAIT UNTIL 2008 TO GIVE THEM BENEFITS? IS IT MORE IMPORTANT TO DISCRIMINATE AGAINST SAME SEX COUPLES FIRST BEFORE THEY CAN WORK ON GETTING "TWO ELDERLY SISTERS" BENEFITS?

As much as they want to deny it, Mass "Family" is for discrimination against gay people. It's not about giving a son and his dependent mother benefits, its about depriving same sex couples the same rights and responsibilities as opposite sex couples plain and simple.

And Where Was Mitt?

It's been a couple of days since a SUPER majority of Massachusetts legislators overwhelming defeated the nasty anti-gay marriage amendment and what's happening now?

Ms. Massresistance, who is never at a loss for finger pointing, is already blaming both Vote on Marriage and the Catholic Church. One of the ridiculous arguments she makes is that the amendment lost because it didn't go far enough. She believes it should have voided all the marriages that have taken place since 2004. Well take away her law degree! O0ps, that's right, she's NOT a lawyer but you'd never know it since she's always giving "legal" opinions and advice on every law under the sun. I'm NOT a lawyer but even I know that you cannot put together a signature petition that reverses a Massachusetts Supreme Court Decision which is exactly what she would like to see done. (She can't be talking about getting a Massachusetts Legislator to file a bill because they couldn't even get a simple majority to approve former House Rep. & anti-gay activist Phil Travis' amendment.)

In today's Boston Globe we are also reading about how Kris Mineau (from the Mass Institute Against Gays) is going to target the 9 legislators who "switched" their votes:

Same-sex marriage opponents yesterday vowed to unseat four lawmakers who campaigned on a promise of supporting a constitutional ban but abandoned that
position on Thursday, helping gay rights advocates win a historic victory at the
Constitutional Convention.

Kris Mineau, president of the Massachusetts Family Institute, said the legislators, two freshman Democrats and two Republicans in the House, would be targeted with opponents in next year's election.

Kris, while I'm not one to give advice to the other side, I'd suggest you try and hold on to the 45 you already have since you've lost allies in every election since you started this whole debacle.

Finally, where's Mitt Romney, the flip-flopper who was responsible for all those original marriages in 2004. No one saw him in the Commonwealth twisting arms and lobbying like he did in 2004 when he got all the GOP legislators to support the Marriage/Civil Unions amendment. Maybe he's come 360 degrees now supports Equal Marriage?

Finally, in the words of Evelyn Reilly of MFI on NECN Tuesday night when asked what she thinks will happen at the Constitutional Convention on June 14th:

Goliath falls!

Mass Family Institute - Gay All the Time

Kris Mineau of the Mass Family Institute (MFI) has been making the rounds lately calling out the "activist judge" who ruled that sections of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) was unconstitutional. It just so happens that Justice Joseph Tauro, or the "activist judge" as Mineau calls him was appointed to the Federal bench by Republican Richard Nixon and was a First Lieutenant in the United States Army.

I wonder if Kris Mineau knows that this "activist judge" became only the second judge to invoke The Adam Walsh Act of 2006 in which allows judges to indefinitely hold child sex offenders in jail if deemed a public danger.

Anyhow, while tooling around the MFI's website I happened on their July 20, 2010 update. Now, the subheading under their name says "Strengthening the family", however, the update was gay, gay gay. Every bullet was anti-gay, or dealt with homosexuality (because the anti-gay crowd love saying words with SEX in them):

• Montana considers radical sex education curriculum
• Senate JudiciaryCommittee approves Elena Kagan's nomination
• Will SCOTUS let DC voteon marriage?
• Get your marching orderson FRC's Special Military Webcast
• Coverage of NOM's Summerfor Marriage Tour in New England
• In ironic statement, Richard Tisei says "Let the people vote!"

I was going to change the link on the left side of the page to MFI but I can see that the Massachusetts Institute Against Gays still fits. They are not only concerned about same sex marriage but are making sure that GLBT Americans are not afforded the same rights as other Americans.

MA Family is Betting on an Alternative Marriage Question

Today's Globe states that the Mass Family Institute will be gathering signatures in Sept to try to put same sex marriage on the ballot in 2008. This action more than assures that the constitutional amendment currently before the Mass Legislature will fail in the fall.

The prospect of a new amendment with no provision for civil unions will probably undermine support for the competing, compromise measure. That compromise measure must clear the Legislature once more in order to be placed on the 2006 ballot.

It seems that Gov. Romney's Staff has been working with the anti-gay Mass Family Institute in crafting this new amendment although Romney hasn't made any statements about the new tactic.

Arline Isaacson says what all of us are thinking:

''We think they're crazy," said Arline Isaacson, cochairwoman of the Massachusetts Gay and Lesbian Political Caucus. ''We're amazed that they are writing off this year's [constitutional convention] when we know they have a very good chance of winning this year and therefore banning same-sex marriages starting in 2006. We're amazed they are considering letting us get married for two more years through 2008. It will virtually guarantee that many thousands more gay people will get married."

Profiles in Courage

Hat tip to Chris over at Take Mass Action who had the lead on the 11 legislators who the Mass Institute Against Gays has called traitors and "Benedict Arnolds" for voting no on the anti-gay marriage amendment:

The 11 legislators who switched their votes to protect marriage equality are being bombarded with phone calls, emails, and letters from same-sex marriage opponents. The anti-gay marriage callers are harassing legislators and yelling at their aids.

In this recent article, Representative Paul Kujawski, who switched his vote to protect marriage equality, said that he doesn't know how many calls he has received since the vote on Thursday.

If you get a chance, I'd suggest you call, email or better yet, hand write these brave legislators who stood up to Goliath and voted their conscience:

Rep. Geraldo Alicea Rep.GeraldoAlicea@hou.state.ma.us 617-722-2060

Rep. Christine Canavan Rep.ChristineCanavan@hou.state.ma.us 617-722-2006

Rep. Paul Kujawski Rep.PaulKujawski@hou.state.ma.us 617-722-2017

Rep. Paul Loscocco Rep.PaulLoscocco@hou.state.ma.us 617-722-2220

Rep. Robert Nyman Rep.RobertNyman@hou.state.ma.us 617-722-2020

Rep. Angelo Puppolo Rep.AngeloPuppolo@hou.state.ma.us 617-722-2011

Rep. Richard Ross Rep.RichardRoss@hou.state.ma.us 617-722-2305

Rep. James Vallee Rep.JamesVallee@hou.state.ma.us 617-722-2380

Rep. Brian Wallace Rep.BrianWallace@hou.state.ma.us 617-722-2013

Sen. Gale Candaras Gale.Candaras@state.ma.us 617-722-1291

Sen. Mickael Morrissey Michael.W.Morrissey@state.ma.us 617-722-1494

Urgent Message from Mass "Family" Institute

Massachusetts Family Institute Urgent Alert November 7, 2005
Protection of Marriage Amendment 2005
AN URGENT MESSAGE FROM KRIS MINEAU

Dear Supporter of Traditional Marriage:
Thank you for all of your support and hard work these last few weeks. The end of the marriage amendment petition drive is fast approaching, but we need your help now more than ever.

It is well known that there will be an unprecedented effort to disqualify signatures on the marriage petition. (We got these signatures through fraud dammit and we will keep these signatures at any expense!) We expect national pro-homosexual organizations to flood Massachusetts with out-of-state money to challenge the certification of every single signature that is collected.

We need your help to ensure that this blatant effort to disenfranchise the voters of Massachusetts fails. We cannot allow these anti-family, anti-democracy forces (unlike us who have deceived people into signing our petitions) to succeed in taking the right to vote away from Massachusetts citizens (As long as they vote the way we want them to, if not then we will try another avenue to remove same sex marriages).

The best way to help us is to collect more signatures. With most churches around the Commonwealth having already conducted their petition drives within their congregations, our focus must now turn to:

Friends and relatives -- please encourage people who have signed the petition to each get a few more signatures from like-minded people (i.e., bigots like us).
The general public -- you know best what places in your town have the highest amount of foot traffic, but here are a few suggestions:

In front of supermarkets that are part of a larger shopping center.
On the sidewalk in front of your post office, especially on Saturday morning.
In your local senior centers.
At your local transfer station or "dump." (i.e., places where likeminded people like you like to hang out)

Klu Klux Klan Meetings, White supremacist gatherings, David Parker Rallies, etc...

If you are on a public sidewalk, you do not need permission from anyone to collect signatures. (But scream bloody murder is anyone questions your tactics. Play the victim) Otherwise, it is best to secure approval from either a store manager or other person in charge. If they refuse, be sure to have the legal guidance from the Secretary of State in hand to show them that they must allow you to collect signatures. (And send the store's name to Massresistance so they can publish the store name, telephone number, pictures of the managers, cashiers, stockboys, telephone numbers of the employees, their hobbies, what they had for lunch that day, etc...) (The guidance can be found on our website:http://www.voteonmarriage.org/signature.html.)

This marriage amendment is our last stand for traditional marriage in Massachusetts. (Well, that is until we question the marriages that have taken place before 2008 through a lawsuit, WE WILL GET ALL THEIR MARRIAGES!!) We must not fall short of our goal. We must not be intimidated by our devious and well-funded opponents. (Family Research Council, American Family Association, Liberty Council, Alliance Defense Fund and the Catholic church is really only giving us "moral" support, they're not sending any money) We must stand strong for marriage as the union of one man and one woman! (Offer not valid in Utah where it's one man and 2+ women)

We effectively have 10 days left to get more signatures and turn them in to the town clerks by November 23. Let’s make the most of them!

For our children (except those children who are gay, lesbian,bisexual, transgender or children of gay, lesbian, bisexual and/or transgender parents because they don't deserve protections like us normal families have.),
Kris Mineau President, Massachusetts Family Institute (Spokesman dammit! I'm not a spokeswoman)
Massachusetts Family Institute is a nonprofit research and education organization dedicated to strengthening and protecting the family (except if that family contains GLBT members).
381 Elliot St. Suite 185L * Newton Upper Falls, MA 02464 http://www.mafamily.org *
Phone: 617-928-0800 * Fax: 617-928-1515
To remove your name from the E-Alert
subscription list, please click here: http://www.breuer.com/mfi/EAlert.aspx

The King's a She & the Queen's a He!

Refreshing news from Illinois:

The homecoming king and queen of Buffalo Grove [Ill.] High School in suburban Chicago are a jock and a cheerleader, but they're far from typical. The boy is the cheerleader, the girl is the jock, and they're both openly gay.

And more:

So, how is it that a gay student and a lesbian win the biggest high school popularity contest?
"I think it shows that is our school, and maybe the generation as a whole, is just a little more progressive," Wohlner said.

Bravo! Although not everyone is happy with the choice that the student body made. Illinois Family Institute (Illinois' answer to the Mass. Family Institute) had this to say:

"For us, it's a sad thing," said Illinois Family Institute's spokesman Pete LaBarbera said. He claims that schools are too politically correct nowadays.

"Something that was once sort of universally regarded as a sin, is now becoming sort of cool in high school," he said.

First off Mr. LaBarbera, no one can tell anyone that they are gay, we realize that for ourselves.
Secondly, if you read your Bible, homosexuality was punished by stoning to death and eating shrimp and lobster was a sin too. What's amazing is that people like you think that this will "turn" more people gay which is very funny.

Everyone I know who is gay was raised by heteroseuxal parents and surrounded by heterosexuality. The positive aspect of this whole story is that these teens are proud of who they are. They can be a role model for other teens who may hear the nasty remarks by people like the Illinois Family Institute and think they are alone.

Mass "Family" Institute Lies Again

Well, well, well, should we be surprised? I think not. Over at KnowThyNeighbor.com they have an interesting piece on how workers are being paid $1.00 a signature for people to sign the anti-gay marriage petition that Mass "Family" is promoting. In addition, they are giving people misinformation concerning the petition:

(1)The "people's petition" process in Massachusetts is being undermined by "buck a signature" out-of-state petition circulators all the while petition spokespersons like Kris Mineau continue to spout rhetoric about the process being an expression of "the people's" voice. So cut the bull Kris and tell the good people of Massachusetts who is really behind this Ballot Initiative. I wonder, is this where all the "faith based initiative" money is going?

(2) Signature gatherers clearly feel entitled to say whatever they want to get people to sign even if it is incorrect. So we not only have to worry about The Catholic Church telling people that same-sex marriage is ending civilization but we now have to worry about a "puppy-dog eyed" signature gatherer claiming that the signer is "helping him out financially" and that signing "doesn't really mean anything."

We should be not surprised that these "people" at Mass "Family" will try anything to get their hateful amendment on the ballot. I just wonder if it does get on the ballot and loses how else will they attack us? There will be a federal lawsuit if the amendment does pass since it will go against the "Full Faith and Credit" clause of the U.S. Constitution.

Talk about creating chaos. This amendment will create a separate class of people since some same sex couples are allowed to be married and other will not. Although I suspect Mass "Family" will argue that no same sex couples should be married and try through court order to dissolve the same sex marriages that will have occurred between 2004 and 2008.

So if you think this amendment is just about future marriages, you're wrong.

Mass Family Institute's Against Anything Gay

For all of Mass Family's Institute's saying that 'they're only concerned with homosexual marriage' they sure are doing a lot to stop anything the even remotely affects gay people.

Case in point: In their recent Commonwealth update they are advocating for boycotting Home Depot:

Will you boycott The Home Depot? I have!

In the same update they complain about the critically acclaimed movie 'The Kids Are Alright' and regurgitate the same phony statistics given out by the Family Research Council.

I think MFI is starting to give MassResistance some competition as the most anti-gay group in Massachusetts.

Importing Testimony

It wasn't enough for the Mass "Family" Institute to pay people to collect signatures for their anti-marriage amendment, they have now brought in people from other countries to "testify" at the Judicial hearing on the amendment. (Gee they don't want US Courts to be influenced by foreign decisions but apparently it's ok for State legislatures to be influenced)

Yes folks, MFI had to bring people from Canada to testify. Of course they bragged about it in their email updates:

Among the panels assembled by Massachusetts Family Institute were two excellent speakers, Louis DeSerres and Dawn Stefanowicz. "With same-sex marriage, we are now taking away the fundamental rights of our most vulnerable citizens, children," DeSerres explained to committee members. He referred to a recently released study in France, and the decision by that country to not only not legalize same-sex marriage, but to also reiterate its prohibitions against adoption and access to medically assisted reproduction for all same-sex couples. DeSerres, a Canadian citizen, said in his country, "adult homosexual rights have increased in weight to the point where they now trump children's rights and best interests."

And I thought they didn't like the French! Of course they discount any of the studies that have gone on in the US but foreign studies that boost their argument is OK!

The woman, Stefanowicz, talked about her experience in Canada as a child. (I'm guessing she's about 40ish?) Which means she was brought up in the 60's. Yeah, I'm sure there are no heterosexual adults who lived "that hippy lifestyle" and raised children like her. Wasn't that the premise of the TV show "Family Ties"? Anyway, Dawn Stefanowicz is the darling of anti-gay movement and has been making the rounds in the US after no one cared about her "story" in Canada.

"My father could not show affection or affirmation to females, making me believe it was better to be a boy," Dawn said in one of the more telling statements in her testimony. This statement goes right to the point that two mothers or two fathers cannot fill the needs that a mother and a father provide to a child. "Children have no voice when they grow up in a homosexual household. Children are unwillingly forced to tolerate their parent's sexual choices and living arrangements," she said.

Was she testifying against marriage or parenting? It sounds like her father might have just been a bad father, I don't think whether he was gay or not had anything to do with his parenting skills. I think the important this about her testimony is that she is an example that gay parents do not make their children gay.

Side Note: Catch Bay Windows today where MFI distances itself from Massachusetts Citizens for Marriage (MCM), Mass News, Article 8 and Massresistance. Even hate can't keep them together.

What's My Line?

Call me crazy, but I love it when they attack their own. What I mean by this is Ms. Massresistance is attacking the Mass "Family" Institute because an immigrant law student intern was used to research and make strategic recommendations for the anti-gay group. Apparently, the intern was funded by the Alliance Defense Fund (Are we surprised that they need to get funding from people outside of our state to get the signatures AND do the legal work?)

One other funny part of the whole mess is on one of the pages at the Voteonmarriage.org website. They have a link for pastors to "preach on the sanctity of marriage" and they give sample sermons.

God's Design for Marriage and Family
Standing Up for Truth and Justice for Children
Taking a Stand for Marriage
The Safety of Natural Order

Well, I guess when you have all the intelligent pastors refusing to preach hate from the pulpit you have to help the less-intelligent ones by providing them with scripts. Again, the Mass "Family" Institute needs the help of the Alliance Defense Fund to advise churches on the legality of collecting signatures. And just look at the topics for sermons, The Safety of Natural Order? Isn't that what they said about blacks marrying whites? I guess they don't want to stand up for the truth and justice of children of same sex couples either.

Romney, Catholic Bishops & Mass "Family" Institute: Intellectually Dishonest

I read this post to this blog and felt it needed to be on the main page. The anonymous poster has some wonderful points:

It pains me to say this, but Article 8 is right. Article 8 objects to the proposed 2008 amendment on the grounds that, among other things, it grandfathers pre-amendment marriages; and that's a valid objection.

If Gov. Romney, the Catholic Bishops (note, not the people), and the Evangelical Christians oppose same-sex unions on moral grounds, then what is the moral/intellectual argument for allowing some marriages to stand? And if the answer is political expediency, i.e., it's a more palatable amendment to the voters nervous about voiding marriages, then are we to understand that these churches [and Gov. Romney] teach that we should always act in accord with the Bible, except when it's politically expedient to do otherwise?

This new admendment started by the Mass "Family" Institute is a sham for discrimination against gay and lesbian people. Here are a couple of articles in today's Globe that MA "Family" should be addressing instead of trying to tear families apart:

• Violence raging among teen girls
• Children's center hangs on
• Former police officer and prison guard accused of molesting girl

I thought the whole idea was to help people and families, not tear them apart?

I See You Shiver with Antici...pation

Ok, MassResistance updated it's website on Friday with just a headline:

MassResistance files papers with MA Secretary of State to force statewide vote on Legislature's repeal of "1913 Law"

Pro-family activists to collect required 33,297 signatures by October deadline.

Watch for our FULL REPORT to be posted Sunday evening at 6:00 pm. And get involved!

Sunday came and went and then we were treated to this:

Of course, Monday morning came and went too. It's now 4:30 PM, not morning and still nothing.

Who do you think are the "pro-family activists" that will be collecting the signatures?

Will the Mass Institute Against Gays finally collaborate with the nationally recognized Hate group know as MassResistance?

Stay tuned, all this and more, same Bat Time, same Bat Channel

As Massachusetts Goes, So Goes the Nation

Yes, now that California's court has ruled that all people are equal under the law, Mass Institute Against Gays is coming out of hiding (will they ever align with the nationally recognized hate group MassResistance?) But Governor Patrick said it best:

"Our experience in Massachusetts has taught us that whenever we affirm the right of people to come before their government as equals, we all win," Patrick said. "I congratulate the California court for upholding that principle."

Massachusetts is indeed a prime example of what happens when you give people equality. All the dire predictions people like Kris Mineau and Ron Crews (remember him?) made about the Commonwealth after Marriage Equality never happened.

Ironically, tomorrow is the fourth anniversary of Marriage Equality and all that has happened is more people are protected under the eyes of the law. We can be very proud.

This new ruling (by a majority of Republican appointed judges I might add) will mean the spotlight will be on Massachusetts once again and we can raise our head high and take heart in knowing that we lead the way.

BTW, while none of the presidential canidates support marriage equality, none of the candiates (Republican or Demoncratic) support the federal marriage amendment either!

Congrats California!

Three Separate And Unequal Classifications of Citizens

Mass Marrier has a great discussion of the MA SJC's ruling. While it is a disappointment, it was expected.

Mass "Family" Institute is practically messing their pants with joy over the ruling. Will they still call the Mass SJC "activist judges"? Of course they will as soon as it doesn't rule the way they want. However, the language in the ruling that they appear to ignore is the part where the justices talk about what would happen if the vote goes forward:

The only effect of a positive vote will be to make same-sex couples, and their families, unequal to everyone else; this is discrimination in its rawest form. Our citizens would, in the future, be divided into at least three separate and unequal classifications: heterosexual couples who enjoy the right to marry; same-sex couples who were married before the passage of the amendment (but who, if divorced, would not be permitted to remarry someone of the same sex); and same-sex couples who have never married and, barring the passage of another constitutional amendment on the subject, will be forever denied that right.

The Massachusetts legislature has two choices: put discrimination into the oldest state constitution or proclaim at "All people are created equal" They will make history one way or another.

The Post Massresistance Didn't Want You To See

Well she's done it again. Apparently, Ms. Massresistance is posting like crazy and for some reason pulls her posts, why? A North Shore MRW reader captured her irrational and angry post. Read it for yourself (It was dated Monday, April 17, 2006):

MFI: Politeness Is the Chief Virtue
Bay Windows reports that Mass. Family Institute (MFI) thinks we're rude (!) and they're "distancing" themselves from the likes of us. (Yes, they appear to have spoken with Bay Windows! Why?)

It seems MFI sent a letter to all the Massachusetts state legislators begging them not to confuse them (MFI) with Article 8/MassResistance or the Pawlicks (Mass. Citizens for Marriage). For some reason, MFI didn't send us a copy of their letter, even after we politely asked!

MFI is the group behind the current horribly flawed marriage amendment. Tight with Dr. James Dobson's Focus on the Family, they like to be polite. They seem not to realize that the barbarians are at the gates. They don't think it's polite to reveal the unpleasant truth about homosexuality, or speak passionately to our representatives.

MFI believes it's a good political strategy to redefine "family" to include the new "families" made since same-sex "marriages" began in May 2004. And it's a REALLY good idea to send openly gay, activist legislators VERY POLITE postcards asking them to PLEASE "Let the people vote!" -- to confirm this ghastly redefinition of the family. An example of very polite testimony from MFI for their amendment:

The amendment is quite limited, as it only relates to "marriage" as such and says nothing one way or the other about benefits, civil unions, domestic partnerships-which are left to legislative rather than constitutional determination. It also only operates prospectively, and will not undo existing same-sex marriages that have been entered into under the authority of the Goodridge decision. ... Only the union of male and female can beget offspring, and only wives and husbands can provide children with a married mother and a father, which is the ideal arrangement for raising children. Obviously other parenting arrangements are possible, and they are allowed by law; but these should not be allowed to undermine the sense that children being raised by a married mother and father is optimal. Preserving the traditional definition of marriage is the least that can be done to make that point.

And MFI wants to distance itself from Brian Camenker and yours truly (Brian -- who is brave enough to expose things like "Fistgate" and the "Little Black Book"), and the Pawlicks (who were behind the PURE marriage amendment of a few years back). Now what did we do to earn the reputation of being "rude"? We suggested to citizens that it's OK to contact legislators at home if they can't reach them at their offices. (Reps did choose to run for public office, after all; and they must have caller ID and voice mail; and can choose not to answer their phones if they're eating dinner!) Or to demand that our reps preserve parental rights. Or that it's OK for citizens to be angry that there are bills filed by Mass. legislators advocating the de-criminalization of bestiality.

No, says MFI, don't be angry -- remain polite and calm. Beg -- but with poise -- for your voting rights. Everything will be OK. And don't be distracted by Article 8/MassResistance's alerts identifying those dangerous bills! (Reminds us of the videos of captured Westerners begging for their lives as the terrorists are about to shoot them in the head, or decapitate them. Weak and hopeless.)

posted by AMann @ 8:18 PM

It's always lovely when they attack each other over who is more hateful.