EdgeBoston.com – by Laura Kiritsy – Bay Windows
With the marriage debate done for now, the MassEquality Board of Directors voted on July 18 to retain a consultant to help the organization determine its future. Meanwhile, the organization has turned its daily attention toward other projects, most notably supporting pro-equality legislators and developing a resource to help LGBT organizations in other states replicate MassEquality?s successful campaign model.
“We?re going to be doing significant planning over the next couple months to really chart a future course for MassEquality,” said Solomon, who expects the process to be completed some time in the fall. He later added, “We?re not stopping work for a second” during the planning process.
In leading the fight to protect the Supreme Judicial Court?s 2003 Goodridge decision from being overturned by constitutional amendments, MassEquality established itself both as a political force in Massachusetts politics and as a model of grassroots campaigning for statewide LGBT organizations nationwide. But because the organization?s singular mission is to defend equal marriage rights in Massachusetts, after the defeat of the anti-gay marriage amendment at the June 14 constitutional convention (ConCon), its board must now confront the question of whether it will exist into the future and, if so, in what capacity.