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!

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?

BUH BYE Guv!

Well, Massachusetts' absentee governor held his presidential campaign rally, er, anti-gay marriage rally today in front of the State House. (From the looks of it, I wonder if tax payer money was used to put together this heinous show of discrimination?) All the news stories so far have said "hundreds" of people showed up on both sides. Me thinks they didn't get the turnout they were hoping for. Even Cardinal O'Malley and Ex-Boston Mayor Ray Flynn got about a thousand in 2004 for their hate fest.

I think it's funny that Romney, who has about a 30% approval rating in this state is trying to "lead the masses". He didn't do it four years ago and he can't do it today.

Yes, Governor, soon you will be history. I'm sure you won't be forgetting that two weeks ago Massachusetts voters overwhelming chose a Pro-Marriage equality candidate for the corner office. Your hand picked Lt. Governor floundered terribly. The Republican party you said you were going to built in the state has sunk to lows not seen since the Civil war. (Does anyone remember Ron Crews who ran the Mass Family Institute ran for state wide office, lost miserably and left the state?)

Yes, Governor, the people HAVE voted and you lost. BUH BYE!

Where do they Stand Now?

No new news (is there ever?) from Article 8 in today's update, they just rehash something they had on last week, although they do highlight a very homophobic letter Camenker wrote to the Boston Herald.

Tomorrow is another meeting of the Constitutional Convention, although they are not expected to vote on anything. They are expected to schedule the dates for the future sessions. This got me thinking. Article 8 is surely not for same sex couples getting married AND they are not for civil unions (which is the gist of the current amendment up for vote). However, they do not support the latest homophobic amendment that Mass "Family" Institute is trying to put forth, so where do they stand?

Granted they are still advocating for the removal of the Mass. Supreme Court Justices, which is never going to happen, so which side are they on?

Will they show up at the State house for the next constitutional Convention with their ludicrous signs?

Will the Mass "Family" people show up to make sure the current amendment is voted down?

Who will take Ron Crews spot in the limelight?

Who will hire all the foreigners to chant in a language that they don't know: "Let the People Vote"?

What a surprise *yawn*

Is anyone really surprised that Romney vetoed the increase for suicide and violence prevention programs for gay and lesbian youth? I think not. The man is trying to become President of the United States. The biggest surprise is that he was lenient to sex offenders. Rumors are abound that Dick Cheney will be resigning for "health reasons" and Romney will jump in as VP (you heard it here first). The rumors have included Giuliani, however, the "Christian" right would never allow that and Bush owes the "Christian" Right and the Bush family and the Romney family seem to be loyal to each other.

The most laughable thing about Romney's veto is that Article 8 is hailing it as their victory. They actually believe that their calling the Gov. actually forced bigoted Romney to veto the budget increase.

My suggestion: Article 8 should just pack up and move out of the state to a place that would accept their prejudiced tactics since Article 8 or Mass "Family" Institute had NO influence whatsoever on the past State elections. In fact, Ron Crews (the former leader of MA "Family before his failed attempt for Congress") has already left the state and I hear is in Kentucky. Laurie Letourneau supposedly is in Virginia (There is a GOD). Is Brian Camenker next?

Kris with a K

One of the "Great" speakers at the Rally for the man accused of trespassing, David Parker:

Kris Mineau

The current leader of Mass Family Institute. This poor man is upset because his special rights were taken away from him. He is the acting head of the group since Ron Crews, that conservative Republican ran and loss miserably for Congress. Kris says about the same sex marriages :

"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."

Kris, maybe you should be spending more time with your spouse instead of bashing other people’s husbands and wives. Why do you think your marriage is so special that it should be a standard for everyone else?

I shouldn’t pick on Kris because he is often mistaken for a woman because of his name (many websites and articles point out that he is the spokeswoman for MA Family) so he probably thinks he has cause to lash out at the gay community. All I can say is, Kris, turn away from the Dark Side, we are much more accepting than the right and will not make fun of you because you have a girl’s name.

You can contact Kris at Phone: (617) 928-0800Fax: (617) 928-1515 or email him at mafamily@mafamily.org