Left In Lowell

What a disappointing day! I did not see it coming. The Massachusetts legislature voted 61 to 132 to advance a balance question that will in effect deny our neighbors the same rights we have. This amendment is not simply anti-gay but it goes against the principles of fairness and equality.

So 1/3 of the membership of the State Legislature decided that it is alright for the majority to decide through a constitutional amendment to limit the civil rights of a minority. Along the way, giving Mitt Romney (who is really getting on my nerves) a political victory, something he will use quite well in Iowa.

As expected the Lowell delegation vote was split. Locally, Representative Kevin Murphy and Representative Tom Golden voted against putting the initiative on the ballot and Representative David Nangle and State Senator Steve Panagiatakos voted in favor.

I urge all of you to contact them and let them know how you feel; especially Reps Murphy and Golden, who may have been under some pressure from the religious, conservative, activist elements in our City to vote in favor. They understood that you do not protect the rights of minorities by having the majority vote on the nature of those rights. (more…)

The inauguration events from Thursday on through the weekend promise to be a set of great celebrations. Jan 4, Deval will be sworn in outdoors, and then there will be an Inaugural Ball in Boston that night. On Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, there are four more regional events, including one in our neighborhood of North Andover!

I’m on the committee for our N. Andover regional event for the North Shore/Merrimack Valley on Friday, Jan 5 event (6pm-10pm), putting together an art show of area artists we’re calling “In Our Towns.” Besides the 25 artists exhibiting at our event Friday, there will be lots of entertainment, food, and of course, Deval! All this will take place in North Andover, at Merrimack College in the Sakowich Center. (Directions here.)

If you are planning on going to this event, they are asking people to purchase their tickets by today at the inaugural website. You can get tickets for the inaugural ball ($50) or for any of the regional events ($20). (Be sure to print out the confirmation receipt to bring with you to pick up your tickets.)

There will be an early will call pickup for tickets tomorrow from 3 to 7pm at the Sakowich Center, so you can avoid the pick up lines on Friday. If you are planning on going to EITHER the Inaugural Ball AND/OR the Friday North Andover event, both sets of tickets will be available at tomorrow’s (Wed) Sakowich Center will call, if you’ve already purchased them through the website. Especially if you plan on going to the Thursday Boston Inaugural Ball, you should consider picking up your tickets early, as the Boston lines will be long!

See you there!

I get press releases from the Patrick administration, and I thought this was pretty neat:

ADAMS MUSEUM LOANS HISTORIC BIBLE FROM SURVIVORS OF THE AMISTAD FOR DEVAL PATRICK INAUGURATION

Deval Patrick will take oath of office on Bible presented to John Quincy Adams by the African captives he helped free in the Amistad 1841 Supreme Court case

BOSTON – The Patrick-Murray Inaugural Committee today announced that governor-elect Deval Patrick will take his oath of office using the Mendi Bible, a gift from the Amistad Africans given to John Quincy Adams after he secured their freedom in an historic case before the United States Supreme Court in 1841. The Bible will be on loan from the Adams National Historical Park in Quincy, and will be displayed at the State House following the inauguration.

“This Bible comes from an extraordinary moment in the history of the Commonwealth, the nation and the world,” said Beverly Morgan-Welch, co-chair of the Inaugural Committee. “The Amistad case was a giant step forward for the abolitionist movement and recognized the basic humanity of enslaved people in America. It is now fitting and proper that we honor it now as part of this historic inaugural.”

Granted, I’m not a huge fan of swearing in on a Bible (better a copy of the state constitution) but if you have to have it, this is definitely cool.