Left In Lowell

I stopped by a Greater Lowell Equality Alliance meeting last night. They invited organizers from the coalition group Mass Equality, to talk about the upcoming Constitutional Convention in May, where the anti-equality amendment to ban gay marriage (and not even replace it with civil unions) will be taken up by the full Massachusetts legislature.

I have the skinny on where our legislators in Greater Lowell stand on this issue, and everyone who’s for equal rights needs to call their Representative and our Senator either to thank them for their support, or to voice your opposition to the amendment and help convince them to vote “no” on it. They need to hear from us. This is a fast, easy, and important way to get involved in state politics. You have no excuse. If you are especially keen to be heard, I recommend faxing or mailing a physical letter as well as calling. Use the letter to express why you are for gay marriage. Use personal stories, and tell them how important this issue is to you. Use this website if you’re not sure who’s your Rep or Senator.

Please click the more button for details, phone numbers, etc.

First, here are the people who will or may vote for the institutionalization of discrimination in our state Constitution, who need to hear from their constituents the most. They are people who voted yes once or twice on the “compromise” amendment in the last two Constitutional Conventions (the failed amendment that would allow civil unions but not “marriage”).

Rep William Greene (D-Billerica) - voted “yes” both times to the previous “compromise” amendment.
phone: 617-722-2210 / fax: 617-722-2215 / email: Rep.WilliamGreene@hou.state.ma.us
Room 472, State House, Boston, MA 02133

Rep. David Nangle (D-Lowell, Chelmsford) - voted yes twice on “compromise” amendment
phone: 978-454-1326 or 617-722-2020 / fax: 617-722-2215 / email: Rep.DavidNangle@hou.state.ma.us
Room 527A, State House, Boston, MA 02133
43 Crowley Street, Lowell, MA 01852

Rep. Geoffrey Hall (D-Chelmsford, Littleton, Westford) - voted yes twice on “compromise” amendment
phone: 617-722-2575 / fax: 617-722-2339 / email: Rep.WilliamGreene@hou.state.ma.us
Room 472, State House, Boston, MA 02133

Rep. Colleen Garry (D-Dracut) - voted yes twice on “compromise” amendment
phones: 617-722-2380 or 978-957-8139 / fax: 978-957-7829 / email: Rep.ColleenGarry@hou.state.ma.us or RepColleenGarry@aol.com

Sen. Steven Panagiotakos (D-First Middlesex - includes Lowell) - voted yes twice on “compromise” amendment
phone: (617) 722-1630 / email: Steven.Panagiotakos@state.ma.us
Room 218, Boston, MA 02133

*****
These are Reps that no one is sure of, so make yourself heard!

Rep. Barry Finegold (D-Andover, Lawrence, Tewksbury) - voted no twice on “compromise” amendment
phone: 617-722-2263 / fax: 617-722-2837 / email: Rep.BarryFinegold@hou.state.ma.us
Room 473B, State House, Boston, MA 02133

Rep. James Miceli (D-Tewksbury, Wilmington) - Voted yes on “compromise” amendment the first time, no the second time.
phone: 617-722-2582 or 978-658-9797 / email: Rep.JamesMiceli@hou.state.ma.us
Room 448, State House, Boston, MA 02133
11 Webber Street, Wilmington, MA 01887

*****
These legislators have already said they will vote against the anti-equality amendment. If you are a constituent, please call them and thank them. This sort of support is as important as calling to voice your opposition with legislators you disagree with.

Sen. Susan Fargo (D-Third Middlesex - includes Chelmsford) - voted no twice on “compromise” amendment; will vote no in May as well
phone: (617) 722-1572 / email: Susan.Fargo@state.ma.us
Room 504, Boston, MA 02133

Sen. Susan Tucker (D-Dracut, Tewksbury) - voted no twice on “compromise” amendment; will vote no in May as well
phone: (617) 722-1612 / fax: (617) 722-1058 / email: Susan.Tucker@state.ma.us
State House, Room 424, Boston, MA 02133

Rep. Thomas Golden (D-Chelmsford, Lowell) - voted yes on “compromise” amendment the first time, no the second time, will vote against the new anti-gay amendment
phone: 617-722-2410 / email: Rep.ThomasGolden@hou.state.ma.us
Room 20, State House, Boston, MA 02133

Rep. Cory Atkins (D-Chelmsford) - voted no twice on “compromise” amendment; will vote no in May as well
phones: 617-722-2013 or 978-369-5299 / emails: Rep.CoryAtkins@hou.state.ma.us or cory@coryatkins.com
Room 472, State House, Boston, MA 02133
1540 Monument Street, Concord, MA 01742

Rep. Kevin Murphy (D-Lowell) - voted yes twice on “compromise” amendment; but will vote no in May on new amendment
phones: 617-722-2013 or 978-459-6320 / fax: 617-626-0514 or 978-452-9737 / emails: Rep.KevinMurphy@hou.state.ma.us or KevinMurphy@Conversent.net
Room 472, State House, Boston, MA 02133
63 Newbury Street, Lowell, MA 01851

There are only a few months to go until the next Constitutional Convention. The anti-gay contingent only needs 50 votes total of the whole General Court to begin to push this silly thing onto the ballot. MassEquality needs to get around 30 more Senators and Representatives to commit to voting “no” in order to shut this amendment down for good. Let’s show them that in Massachusetts, love and equality win out over homophobia and bigotry!

I will remind you periodically over the next few months to take action on this issue. I try to make it as easy and painless as possible.