MARY BONAUTO -- A HERO IN THE GLBTQ COMMUNITY  


The following article highlighting the years of strategic leadership and legal work by Mary Bonauto appeared in the New York Times yesterday after  US Supreme Court hearings on the constitutionality of proposition 8 in California and on the federal DOMA.

Maine Lawyer Credited in Fight for Gay Marriage BY SHERYL GAY STOLBERG Mary Bonauto, of Gay and Lesbian Advocates and Defenders, has only a sideline seat this week, but she spent a decade plotting a careful strategy.

Or, copy and paste this URL into your browser: http://nyti.ms/XGBWyG

The article gives Mary appropriate credit for her work on same-sex marriage. 

For me, there is more to say. Mary was the lawyer who helped me and the members of the Domestic Partners task force I created when I was Mayor of Cambridge in 1990 to draft the Cambridge Domestic Partners' ordinance. Remember part of recent history is, when that ordinance passed the Cambridge City Council in 1992, (by a 5-4 vote that was a bold step.  

Mary was also involved in my years of legislative work on both domestic partners and same sex marriage.

I had the pleasure of being present for the oral arguments in the Massachusetts marriage case. Mary's presentation was superb and, of course, the outcome changed history.

Besides her superb strategic sense and legal capabilities, Mary is one of the nicest people I know. That comes across in her sensitivity to the judges and, though I am not an expert on this, would give her a leg up before any judge. 

I am proud to know Mary Bonauto and consider her a friend. 

SAME SEX MARRIAGE  --  FASCINATING LEGAL HISTORY


Thanks to Arthur Lipkin for emailing this article to me.

Wedding Bells - NYTimes.com BY LINDA GREENHOUSE As the Supreme Court prepares to take up the question of same-sex marriage, it seems worth remembering how much has changed without the Supreme Court’s ever addressing the issue directly.

As someone who has been a leader in furthering gay rights for many years, the history is fascinating and the progress is gratifying. Let us remember, however, there are still many places where discrimination reigns and where people are hurt as a result.

MA DEMS HOLD PLATFORM HEARING APRIL 6

             

Party platforms sometimes seem like only words. However, they do represent the views of the party at a given period of time. They can be more than words if elected officials are held accountable for the planks they contain.

There is an extensive process of hearings in which  the public can make known their concerns . Then a Platform Committee crafts the actual document. The party convention then endorses, or amends, that document to have a final platform for the coming years.

The hearing described below is part of the Massachusetts Democratic party  process to adopt a platform for the state party. Participate. Let your views and concerns be known.

      FINAL MASSACHUSETTS DEMOCRATIC PLATFORM HEARING IN CAMBRIDGE 

                     Saturday, April 6   1 Pm  Main Cambridge Public Library  Broadway 

Please join us on April 6^th to help shape the values and vision for the Massachusetts Democratic Party for the next four years.

·         What should Mass Dems stand for when it comes to climate change and sustainability?

·         How should we address vulnerable populations and issues such as homelessness, poverty, and immigration?

·         How do we feel about the progressive revenues and expenditures proposals presented by Governor Patrick?

·         What are the Democratic solutions to housing, transportation, and infrastructure?

This will be the last opportunity to weigh in before Cambridge’s thoughts on the platform are sent to the drafting committee and voted on at the convention

SUPPORT OUR COMMUNITIES
and the people in them.


Read governor's Patrick's testimony to the House ways and Means Committee on Friday, March 8 when inches of snow were falling outside.

http://www.mass.gov/governor/pressoffice/speeches/0308-budget-hearing-testimony.html


The Governor talked about the importance of investing in transportation and education  -- both important for our residents and for our economic future.

There will be a rally at the State House to support the Governor's proposals. Sponsored by the Campaign for our Communities

TUESDAY, MARCH 12 AT 11 AM

If you are looking for a way to support our future, show up or send others that can.

Yesterday, March 7, Paul Solomon interviewed Professor Jerome Kagan, behavioral psychologist from Harvard, on the extension of the PBS Newshour. The subject was the nurturing and education of poor children. Professor Kagan emphasizes the enormous educational gaps between poor kids and middle class kids.

The conversation can be found at

http://www.pbs.org/newshour/economy/makingsense/

Look for "depressing data about early childhood"

Although the conversation is a little depressing, as an early education advocate, I am impressed by the number of very public places that the issue of early education and care is now being addressed: the Governor's state-of-the-state address, the President's State of the Union address, the editorial pages of a number of newspapers, etc. Perhaps this dialogue will move the issue forward a little faster.