[Hamp-law] Equal Marriage Event Mar 2

[Flavio Risech]

We Say "I Do", They Say, "No Way:" A Panel on 
Equal Marriage/Equal Rights-March 2nd, 7-9 PM, 
UMass Campus Center Room 917

On November 18, 2003, the Supreme Judicial Court 
of Massachusetts ruled that Lesbian and Gay 
couples were entitled to wed under the state 
constitution and ordered the legislature to 
identify a solution within 180 days.  On February 
3rd, the Massachusetts High Court ruled that only 
full and equal marriage rights for Lesbian and 
Gay couples- rather then civil unions - would be 
constitutional. On February 11th and 12th, 
efforts to amend the Massachusetts State 
constitution to define marriage as between a man 
and a woman were narrowly defeated. Another 
constitutional convention will be held on March 
11, 2003.

On Tuesday, March 2, 2004, the Stonewall Center, 
Everywoman’s Center and a broad coalition of 
campus and community organizations will host, We 
Say, "I Do" They Say, "No Way," a panel 
presentation about the efforts to secure equal 
marriage rights for all families in 
Massachusetts. This event will be held from 
7:00-9:00 in Campus Center 917 at the University 
of Massachusetts/Amherst. Panelists will include: 
Heidi Norton and Gina M. Smith, two of the 
successful plaintiffs in the case Goodridge vs. 
the Department of Public Health; Stacy Roth, 
Statewide Liaison for the Lesbian, Gay, 
Bi-sexual, Transgender Political Alliance and 
Co-chair of the Executive Committee of 
MassEquality; and, Reverend Jay Deacon, Senior 
Minister of the Unitarian University Society of 
Florence and Northampton. Issues addressed will 
include: why the option of marriage is so 
important for lesbian and gay couples and 
families; the historical role of religion in 
marriage and the case for the separation of 
church and state; an overview of the judicial and 
legal process thus far; an up-to-date report from 
the front line of this struggle for equal rights; 
as well as an opportunity to talk about what to 
do to preserve equal marriage in Massachusetts.
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