I don't know about the rest of these reps, but Tangretti has nothing to lose, really. He won re-election with 60% of the vote. Even if he loses all the GLBT voters in his district, his support of this travesty of justice will win him votes from the radical religious right.

I've got a call into Tangretti. I've met with him before when the Bermilen (sp?) amendments were on the table. We had a rather lengthy conversation and his support of the amendment surprises me and greatly upsets me.

Love and Light,
Rev. Shelly Strauss Rollison

Let us know what you hear back from him. Where was he on the Birmelin amendments? What do you think accounts for the change?

Sue

I will. I called twice to his office in Greensburg to set up an appointment and the man who answered the phone sounded very...frustrated. Hopefully because he's getting a lot of flack for supporting this unAmerican legislation.

He did not support the Birmelin amendments and the only thing I can figure is that the race last time, while he won by 60%, was still considered "tight". I think maybe he's trying to appeal to the more conservative factions in Westmoreland County. The GLBT's in Westmoreland County aren't a very out or vocal group-- I attempted to start a support group in this area and received virtually no response. I guess he figures it's better to lose a few GLBT votes than it is to risk the radical religious right voting him out of office.

However, I know for a fact that there are a heck of a lot of us here...just no one willing to be out and vocal. Well, almost no one. I have no problem with it and in fact I called Channel 4 news last summer after the road supervisor took more than 3 days to get rid of a stop sign on my street that had the word "fags" spraypainted under it. They interviewed me and it ran on the six and eleven o'clock news. The sign was changed in less than 24 hours.

Love and Light,
RevShelly