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<div><b>We Say "I Do", They Say, "No Way:" A Panel
on Equal Marriage/Equal Rights-March 2nd, 7-9 PM</b>, UMass Campus
Center Room 917<br>
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<div>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.<br>
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<div>On<b> Tuesday, March 2, 2004</b>, the Stonewall Center,
Everywoman’s Center and a broad coalition of campus and community
organizations will host,<b> We Say, "I Do" They Say,
"No Way,"</b> a panel presentation about the efforts to
secure equal marriage rights for all families in Massachusetts. This
event will be held from<b> 7:00-9:00 in Campus Center 917 at the
University of Massachusetts/Amherst</b>. Panelists will include:<b>
Heidi Norton and Gina M. Smith, two of the successful plaintiffs in
the case Goodridge vs. the Department of Public Health</b>;<b> Stacy
Roth, Statewide Liaison for the Lesbian, Gay, Bi-sexual, Transgender
Political Alliance and Co-chair of the Executive Committee of
MassEquality</b>; and,<b> Reverend Jay Deacon, Senior Minister of the
Unitarian University Society of Florence and Northampton</b>. 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.</div>
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