5 days until Constitutional Convention

Dear Sen. Travaglini,
During the July 12 Constitutional Convention this Wednesday, I urge you to vote to allow the Marriage Amendment, Article #20, to advance to the next session. Massachusetts citizens have the right to amend the Constitution; the Attorney General has ruled that the language of this proposed amendment passes Constitutional muster, and the 176,000 signatures gathered, (certification stopped after 123,356, more than twice the number required for a vote) indicate that the citizens have earned the right to be heard on how marriage is defined in our state.

Regardless of your position on same-sex marriage, the 2008 Ballot question will become an important part of the National debate on exactly how our State defines marriage and protects children. All Citizens of the Commonwealth want to protect the individual rights of our gay brethren, but this does not include to right to redefine marriage, so I urge you not to thwart our right and privilege to vote on Article #20 as a ballot question in 2008.

I know many believe that they do not want to put "minority rights" to a vote, or to write discrimination into the Constitution, but the recent ruling by the New York Court of Appeals backs up our belief, redefining marriage is not a right.
Sincerely,
Jay G.
Holden
Harriette.Chandler@state.ma.us 617 722-1544
Robert.Antonioni@state.ma.us 617 722-1230
Robert.Travaglini@state.ma.us 617 722-1500 Speaker
Rep.RobertSpellane@Hou.State.MA.US 617 722-2220
Rep.LewisEvangelidis@Hou.State.MA.US 617 722-2263
Rep.SalvatoreDiMasi@Hou.State.MA.US 617 722-2500 Speaker
Rep.HaroldNaughton@Hou.State.MA.US
http://votervoice.net/target.asp?id=voteonmarriage:9811418
http://www.mass.gov/legis/memmenus.htm for State Senators and
http://www.mass.gov/legis/memmenuh.htm for State Representatives