[WestMALocals] Press Release on Equal Marriage

[Owen Broadhurst]

 Owen R. Broadhurst
96 Elbert Road
Agawam, MA  01001-3202
413.786.1508
http://www.owenbroadhurst.org



*FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE*

* *

*Owen Broadhurst Reiterates Support of Equal Marriage Rights, Decries
MassEquality Misrepresentation of Broadhurst Campaign *

* *

AGAWAM-  Green-Rainbow Party candidate for State Representative in the Third
Hampden District, Owen R. Broadhurst, reiterated again today his solid
support of equal marriage rights and observed that MassEquality – the
primary political action committee working in the state to preserve equal
marriage rights – misrepresented his record.



Mr. Broadhurst reiterated his credentials as an equal marriage rights
activist:



"I am a candidate sixteen years out of the closet, and the very first and
only candidate ever to campaign out of the closet for this office. The time
and energy that I have devoted to the cause of equal marriage rights all
throughout my sixteen years out of the closet exceeds that of all candidates
ever to seek this office throughout the Commonwealth's entire history
combined. I have lobbied and campaigned for the cause of equal marriage
rights for nearly all of my adult life. I was instrumental in the creation
of the Green-Rainbow Party's Equal Marriage Rights taskforce; I've authored
editorials promoting equal marriage rights since well before the
MassEquality PAC was created; and I have been on the front lines of the
fight for this essential right since well before the Goodrich decision. I am
the candidate of the very first political party fighting for this cause."



Mr. Broadhurst, an openly bisexual candidate, observed that his campaign has
been endorsed by the National Lavender Green Caucus, that he has served as
an officer for that Caucus, and that he has been engaged in efforts to
create a Lavender Caucus for the Green-Rainbow Party – the Massachusetts
affiliate of the Green Party of the United States. "No political parties
beyond the Green and Green-Rainbow Parties have worked harder, longer, to
secure the dream of equal marriage rights," Broadhurst noted, "and no
competing candidate for State Representative in the Third Hampden District
can boast ever having devoted as much time and effort to that cause as I
personally have."



The MassEquality PAC, however, has endorsed a competing Democratic Party
candidate for state representative, and portrayed that candidate's opponents
all as equal marriage rights opponents. "Imagine my surprise to hear from
MassEquality, who have always had my support and who have always benefited
from my political activism, that I not only was never once considered for
their political endorsement – but that I was now to be portrayed by them as
an equal marriage rights opponent. MassEquality never returned my phone
calls and e-mails alerting them to my campaign and my stance on this issue.
The PAC never researched my views at all. It is public knowledge that I am a
candidate for this seat, and yet MassEquality sent equal marriage rights
activist in this district a letter dated August 7 th, but received August 18
th, claiming that all opponents of the candidate they did endorse
universally have opposed equal marriage rights," Broadhurst observed



MassEquality sent its supporters in the district an e-mail on August 11,
2006 specifically noting that the Democratic Party rivals of the candidate
it has endorsed oppose equal marriage rights. Mr. Broadhurst observed that
he does not take issue with MassEquality having endorsed a pro-marriage
equality candidate for the Democratic Party primary. "Shame on any
candidates opposed. This issue revolves around a key set of essential civil
and human rights," Broadhurst argued, "and those who care deeply for this
issue cannot sit idly by to watch equal marriage rights opponents capture
the Democratic Party nomination. I can well understand that, and would have
been very surprised if MassEquality did not endorse a pro-marriage equality
candidate in that primary."



However, MassEquality followed this e-mail up with a letter dated
August 7ththat claimed all competing against the candidate endorsed
oppose equal
marriage rights. "MassEquality has blanketed supporters in the district with
e-mails, letters and phone calls supporting the candidate it has endorsed –
as it should for candidates that it has endorsed. Unfortunately, the letter
MassEquality sent claims that only the candidate that it has endorsed would
fight for the preservation of these rights. Without even mentioning me by
name, MassEquality claimed in its letter that I'm an opponent of equal
rights," Broadhurst noted.



Broadhurst also noted MassEquality's pledge to correct the record:



"MassEquality's Political Director, Matthew McTighe, has pledged that he
shall correct the record with e-mails and phone calls to MassEquality
supporters. As of the 19 th of August, that had not yet happened. Although
Mr. McTighe did apologise, I do not have access to MassEquality's list of
supporters and feel compelled to personally correct the record. I
furthermore now find myself wondering if it is indeed true that two
Democratic Party contenders for this seat indeed oppose equal marriage
rights. The people of this district need to know who does, and who does not,
support essential and basic human rights - and all other candidates have an
obligation to make their views on this public."


-- 
Owen R. Broadhurst
Candidate for State Representative
Third Hampden District
http://www.owenbroadhurst.org