LGBT Groups Seek Brown's Public Support

On Mar. 5, Massachusetts LGBT Democrats and gay rights activists released an open letter to Scott Brown, Republican senator of Massachusetts, currently running for reelection. The letter urged Brown to use his appearance with Chris Christie, Republican New Jersey governor, as an opportunity to stand up for marriage equality. Signed by LGBT State Representatives and Co-Chairs of National Stonewall Democrats and SEIU Lavender Caucus, the letter asked Brown to publicly announce his support of marriage equality at a campaign fundraiser dinner with Christie.

Massachusetts became the first state to support marriage equality in 2004, under the Supreme Judicial Court Ruling of the Goodridge v. Department of Public Health case. Massachusetts LGBT leaders asked Brown to publicly support same-sex marriage as a political leader of Massachusetts. In the letter to Brown, LGBT leaders described America’s growing support for the rights of lesbian and gay couples. They cited an October 2011 poll in which “60 percent of Massachusetts voters supported marriage equality.” The gay rights activists