From: James Yorton Subject: ACTION ALERT: Massachusetts "Sodomy" Law Date: Wed, 6 Mar 1996 13:15:43 -0600 (CST) [ submitted by MGLPC@aol.com ] URGENT ACTION ALERT S.1032, REFORM OF ARCHAIC SEX LAWS The Massachusetts State Senate is expected to vote in the near future on S.1032, A BILL WHICH WOULD DECRIMINALIZE adultery, cohabiting after a divorce, fornication, and sodomy. Passage of S.1032 is one of MGLPC's legislative priorities for the 1995-96 legislative session. ACTION REQUESTED If you are a resident of Massachusetts, MGLPC urges you to contact your state senator this week (see list below) TO REQUEST HIS OR HER SUPPORT of this legislation. If you are not sure of which senate district you live in, please email MGLPC with your name and full street address. BACKGROUND In the past 20 years, over half of the states in the U.S. have abolished laws relating to private, consensual behavior between adults. Indeed, only 22 states still criminalize such behavior. Massachusetts and Rhode Island are alone among the six New England states -- in fact, the only two states in the entire northeast -- still to have laws on the books which criminalize private, consensual, non-commercial intimate conduct between adults. And Massachusetts' laws pertaining to sexual conduct are among the harshest in the country. In testimony before the Joint Committee on the Judiciary in 1995, MGLPC asserted its strong belief that intimate behavior between consenting adults is an intensely personal, private matter. "Governmental involvement in these issues in particular is a fundamental intrusion into the most private aspects of our lives," stated lobbyist Barbara Boring. "Laws which criminalize private, consensual adult behavior are repugnant to the basic values of individual freedom and the right to privacy, and they are an unwanted intrusion into the private lives of every Massachusetts citizen. Government simply does not belong in the bedrooms of its citizens." Boring further testified that MGLPC has had vast experience in the effects of prejudice and hatred. "We are especially sensitive to the vulnerability of gay people to the selective enforcement of laws: we cannot allow these laws to be used as an excuse for harassment of and discrimination against gay people, and we support their immediate repeal," she said. LIST OF SENATORS TO CONTACT RE: S.1032 Amorello, Matthew - Rm. 314 - TEL (617) 722-1485 - Grafton Antonioni, Robert - Rm. 109E - TEL (617) 722-1230 - Leominster Bernstein, Robert - Rm. 218 - TEL (617) 722-1544 - Worcester Berry, Frederick - Rm. 109 - TEL (617) 722-1410 - Peabody Birmingham, Thomas - Rm.332 - TEL (617) 722-1500 - Chelsea Clancy, Edward - Rm. 410 - TEL (617) 722-1350 - Lynn Creedon, Michael - Rm. 413C - TEL (617) 722-1200 - Brockton Durand, Robert - Rm. 109C - TEL (617) 722-1120 - Marlborough Havern, Robert - Rm. 513 - TEL (617) 722-1432 - Arlington Hicks, Lucille - Rm. 413F - TEL (617) 722-1572 - Wayland Jacques, Cheryl - Rm. 312D - TEL (617) 722-1555 - Needham Jajuga, James - Rm. 216 - TEL (617) 722-1604 - Methuen Keating, William - Rm. 213C - TEL (617) 722-1222 - Sharon Knapik , Michael - Rm. 309 - TEL (617) 722-1415 - Westfield Leahy, Daniel - Rm. 416B - TEL (617) 722-1630 - Lowell Lees, Brian - Rm. 308 - TEL (617) 722-1291 - E. Longmeadow Magnani, David - Rm. 413A - TEL (617) 722-1640 - Framingham Melconian, Linda - Rm. 320 - TEL (617) 722-1660 - Springfield Montigny, Mark - Rm. 413D - TEL (617) 722-1440 - New Bedford Morrissey, Michael - Rm. 213B - TEL (617) 722-1494 - Quincy Murray, Therese - Rm. 511C - TEL (617) 722-1330 - Plymouth Norton, Thomas - Rm. 333 - TEL (617) 722-1114 - Fall River O'Brien, John - Rm. 416A - TEL (617) 722-1612 - Andover Pacheco, Marc - Rm. 413B - TEL (617) 722-1551 - Taunton Pines, Lois - Rm. 504 - TEL (617) 722-1639 - Newton Rauschenbach, Henri - Rm. 315 - TEL (617) 722-1570 - Brewster Rosenberg, Stanley - Rm. 212 - TEL (617) 722-1532 - Amherst Shannon, Charles - Rm. 421 - TEL (617) 722-1578 - Winchester Swift, Jane - Rm. 423 - TEL (617) 722-1625 - North Adams Tarr, Bruce - Rm. 507 - TEL (617) 722-1600 - Gloucester Tisei, Richard - Rm. 313 - TEL (617) 722-1206 - Wakefield Tolman, Warren - Rm. 424 - TEL (617) 722-1280 - Watertown Travaglini, Robert - Rm. 511B - TEL (617) 722-1634 - Boston Walsh, Marian - Rm 405 - TEL (617) 722-1348 - Boston Wetmore, Robert - Rm. 312C - TEL (617) 722-1540 - Barre White, W. Paul - Rm. 109D - TEL (617) 722-1643 - Dorchester **Wilkerson, Dianne - Rm. 312H - TEL (617) 722-1673 - Boston ** designates lead sponsor --- _____________________________________________________________________________ * ACTION-ALERT is a moderated mailing list. * * To subscribe to ACTION-ALERT, send mail to: majordomo@vector.casti.com * * In the mail message, enter ONLY the words: subscribe action-alert * * To unsubscribe to ACTION-ALERT, send mail to: majordomo@vector.casti.com * * In the mail message, enter ONLY the words: unsubscribe action-alert * * Words in the Subject: line are NOT processed! * _____________________________________________________________________________