Press

MEDIA CONTACT:
Roberta Sklar, Director of Communications
media@theTaskForce.org
646.358.1465

PLEASE PASS ON TO YOUR FRIENDS & FAMILY...QUICKLY

Dear Task Force Supporter,

I am writing with a rare request to ask that you join the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force in supporting MassEquality and its urgent campaign to keep the political and religious right from overturning that state's historic court decision ordering an end to discrimination in marriage rights. What happens in Massachusetts will have enormous implications for LGBT people and our families nationwide.

MassEquality needs to raise at least another $100,000 by February 11, when state legislators are slated to vote on beginning the process to amend the state constitution to outlaw the recognition of same sex marriage. This is a critical moment in our movement's history and we must all unite to support our LGBT family in Massachusetts.

I don't need to tell you that last fall's Goodridge decision from Massachusetts' Supreme Judicial Court has ignited an unprecedented reactionary firestorm across the nation. Hateful forces have launched drives to write our second-class citizenship into the constitutions of 17 states, including Massachusetts. President Bush capitulated to these same forces when he condemned the Goodridge decision in his State of the Union address.

Every state under attack needs help. However, if our community is unable to protect the Massachusetts victory - the long-sought breakthrough - we will all be set back many, many years. We watched similar court wins in Hawaii and Alaska go down in legislative flames. We just don't have many chances left and we cannot let the right prevail here.

That's why whatever contribution you can make to MassEquality TODAY is critical. (Information on how to donate appears at the end of this message.)

I would not ask you to give, if we weren't doing the same. Because of the urgency of the situation, we at the Task Force are putting our scarce money and resources into this critical fight:

- We're donating $25,000 to make sure MassEquality's great new campaign manager, Marty Rouse, can focus on beating the right, and not on fundraising his own salary. Our donation, along with HRC's $30,000, helped make this possible.

- From March 19-21, our Task Force Organizing & Training Department will be holding a Power Summit in Boston to train 120 committed activists from across the country engaged in the marriage rights struggle. There will be two tracks - one on doing effective lobbying on this issue and the other on running effective campaigns on marriage-related ballot measures.

- We're donating the time of Sue Hyde, veteran leader and activist in our Cambridge office, to help MassEquality coordinate its work.

- In conjunction with the Freedom to Marry Coalition of Massachusetts, we wrote a policy brief on marriage, which is being used to educate legislators and inform voters. Last Thursday, New England's Bay Windows newspaper included the brief in all 15,000 of its copies. (You can obtain the brief on line at http://www.TheTaskForce.org/library).

- On March 9-10, the National Religious Leadership Roundtable, which is convened and staffed by the Task Force, will meet in Boston to help counter the anti-marriage campaign organized by the Archdiocese of Boston and other fundamental religious organizations. In conjunction with Massachusetts' Religious Coalition for the Freedom to Marry, the Roundtable will hold a public event highlighting religious leaders.

- In a few weeks, we will be releasing a report that profiles the discrimination real families in Massachusetts face because of marriage discrimination.

Thank you for your consideration. MassEquality's appeal for donations and support follows, including their address.

Sincerely,

Matt Foreman
National Gay and Lesbian Task Force Executive Director

Urgent Appeal From MassEquality:

Dear Friends,

Save same-sex marriage rights in Massachusetts!

The radical right has targeted the state Supreme Judicial Court's pro same-sex marriage decision. Armed with more money and foot soldiers than we could ever have imagined, they'll reach over one million Massachusetts households with their anti-LGBT message in the next few days.

They are determined to crush our right to marry.

They - and we - have until Feb 11th, 2004, when state legislators are scheduled to vote on an anti-gay constitutional amendment.

If we lose this vote, same-sex families may be second-class citizens for generations to come.

MassEquality -- an unprecedented coalition of local and national organizations -- has a plan to organize, lobby, and mobilize our supporters all across the state to defeat any anti-gay amendment.

In order to put our plan into action immediately, we need to raise $100,000 online by February 11. Your money will directly pay for our campaign's phone calls, mail, lobbying and field organizing.

Please give what you can today. Use this link: http://www.MassEquality.org/don.php

Thank you in advance from all of us. Together we'll make history. Please consider forwarding this urgent appeal.

Sincerely,

The MassEquality Team

P.S. Watch the Massachusetts map on our new homepage turn blue as we approach our goal of $100,000!

----------
ABOUT MASS EQUALITY

www.massequality.org
MassEquality
398 Columbus Ave., Suite 198
Boston, MA 02116

We exist to ensure that the Supreme Judicial Court's decision on marriage is upheld, and that any anti-gay amendment is defeated.

Our members include: ACLU of Massachusetts, Anti-Defamation League - New England Region, Bisexual Resource Center, Citizens for Participation in Political Action, Freedom to Marry Coalition of MA, Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders, Gay and Lesbian Labor Activist Network/Pride at Work/AFL-CIO, Human Rights Campaign, Jewish Alliance for Law and Social Action, LGBT Aging Project, Massachusetts Gay & Lesbian Political Caucus, Massachusetts Lesbian & Gay Bar Association, National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, National Organization for Women - MA Chapter, Religious Coalition for the Freedom to Marry, Western MA LGBT Political Alliance. Mass Equality is a non-profit, 501(c)4 organization. As such it may receive unlimited donations from individuals and corporations. Donations are deeply appreciated, but are not tax-deductible.

–30–

The mission of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force is to build the political power of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community from the ground up. We do this by training activists, organizing broad-based campaigns to defeat anti-LGBT referenda and advance pro-LGBT legislation, and by building the organizational capacity of our movement. Our Policy Institute, the movement’s premier think tank, provides research and policy analysis to support the struggle for complete equality and to counter right-wing lies. As part of a broader social justice movement, we work to create a nation that respects the diversity of human expression and identity and creates opportunity for all. Headquartered in Washington, D.C., we also have offices in New York City, Los Angeles, Miami, Minneapolis and Cambridge.