A prominent lesbian activist says that she and dozens of others fighting right-wing attempts to prevent same-sex marriage in Massachusetts have suffered repeated insults and harassment by the ballot initiative’s proponents.

"Signature-gatherers have tried hard to provoke us," says Arline Isaacson of the Boston-based Campaign for Equality, a coalition of 12 civil-rights and gay-rights groups. According to Isaacson, she and other "Truth Squadders," as they call themselves, have been called "fucking faggots," threatened with violence, and had their car license plates photographed.

"For gays and lesbians," Isaacson adds, "these types of threats can resonate."

The proposed Protection of Marriage Amendment, which would rewrite the state constitution, is being sponsored by a Waltham-based group known as Massachusetts Citizens for Marriage (MCM). The amendment, which could appear on the November 2004 statewide ballot, would halt efforts to legalize same-sex marriage or even Vermont-style civil unions. It would also endanger existing legal protections for gay and lesbian couples.

Since MCM began gathering signatures in September, Isaacson and as many as 300 "Truth Squad/Decline to Sign" volunteers have appeared at supermarkets and shopping malls from North Adams and Worcester to Cape Cod to counter what she describes as "lies and propaganda." Petition proponents, she claims, have intentionally obfuscated facts about the measure: "They tell people, ‘Sign this petition to protect marriage.’ But they don’t tell people that this initiative would forever prohibit a panoply of rights for gays and lesbians."

Even worse, Truth Squad volunteers claim they have spotted MCM petitioners using a classic bait-and-switch tactic. Voters are told about a ballot initiative that would outlaw the slaughter of horses for human consumption. But when it comes time to sign, they’re presented with the anti-gay petition instead. Last Friday, Attorney General Tom Reilly issued a public warning about such "deceptive practices," saying that "spot checks" have supported the Truth Squad’s claims. He urged voters who think they may have been tricked into signing the MCM petition to contact their local election commissioners.

MCM chairman Brian Rudnick did not return the Phoenix’s phone calls. But in a November 17 statement responding to Reilly, Rudnick denied that his organization’s petitioners were involved in "improper activity." He even asserted that "the Attorney General’s Office has been the target of a phone campaign by our opponents trying to manipulate the Attorney General in a last-ditch effort to stop a very popular petition drive."

Despite this nastiness, Truth Squad volunteers remain undaunted. Although MCM petitioners faced a November 21 statewide deadline to gather the 57,100 signatures needed to submit the amendment to the state legislature, a quirk in the law allows them to keep at it in Boston until next Monday, November 26. That means the Truth Squad/Decline to Sign volunteers will be out in full force this weekend at city supermarkets, shopping centers, and neighborhood churches.

Though Isaacson anticipates MCM will meet its signature goal, she estimates that the Decline to Sign campaign has discouraged "thousands of people" from supporting it. In other words, the insults have been worth it. Says Isaacson, "We’ve at least begun educating voters and trying to get them to better understand this issue. That’s really important."

The Campaign for Equality has a call out to volunteers for the Truth Squad/Decline to Sign effort in Boston, November 23 through 26. Those interested in serving on a Truth Squad or helping behind the scenes can contact the campaign’s office at (617) 859-0325.

Issue Date: November 22 - 29, 2001

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