Communications's blog

Minnesota, Rhode Island and Delaware bring us to a dozen states (plus D.C.) that now ensure lesbian and gay couples the freedom to marry, and Friday, May 17, is the ninth anniversary of the day it all began, here in Massachusetts. Lee Swislow, executive director of GLAD, which brought the landmark Goodridge case, shares her thoughts in Marking the Progress of Marriage Equality. -CO

Next day, celebrate Boston Youth Pride, on Saturday, May 18, 11am-4pm at the Boston Common Bandstand. -CO

Youth can also speak out about the LGBTQ-friendliness of their schools in the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network's 2013 National School Climate Survey. The survey is open to those who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer or questioning; who attended high school or middle school in the 2012-2013 school year; and who are at least 13 years old. -RR

"The Bear Sessions: Portraiture" explores and expands on what constitutes modern masculinity through the photographs of 80 participants from across the country. Visit the opening reception at the Boston Center for Adult Education on Friday, May 17. 6-8pm. $20. Exhibit runs through June. -RR

Frustrated that girls are given animated characters (who are often princesses) as their only role models, Jaime Moore photographed her five-year-old daughter Emma as five strong, accomplished and real women: Massachusetts-born Susan B. Anthony, Coco Chanel, Amelia Earhart, Helen Keller and Jane Goodall.

So much for the freedom of the open road! Law enforcement agencies are quietly accumulating incredibly detailed records about ordinary people's movements through automatic license plate readers. Kade Crockford, director of our Technology for Liberty project, takes this on in the pages of the Boston Herald, through her op-ed Keep Big Brother at Bay. -CO

The ACLU of Massachusetts Bill of Rights Dinner is Monday, May 20! Among the attractions are activist and actress Kathleen Turner, who will perform a piece from her one-woman play about journalist Molly Ivins, Red Hot Patriot. Before you go, listen to this interview with Kathleen Turner by our own Bill Newman, on the history and future of civil liberties. $180. -CO

CO = Christopher Ott, ACLUm Communications Director
RR = Raquel Ronzone, ACLUm Communications Content Specialist

Freedom is more fun!

What creative, provocative, controversial forms of First Amendment expression--and other fun uses of freedom--are we missing? Tell us now.

Many courts have ruled peaceful panhandling is protected under the First Amendment, and selective enforcement has targeted the poor and homeless.

Teen angst, revisited. Professional performers and amateurs share their most embarassing teenage memories — captured in journals, poems, letters and home movies — at Oberon. We're blushing just thinking about it. Friday, May 10. 8pm. $15. -RR

NPR's veteran radio host Terry Gross speaks at the Sanders Theatre. Friday, May 10 at 8pm. $30-40. -RR

A lot has changed since 1984, when Northampton refused to issue a permit for the gay rights parade. With Pride and a decision in the ACLU's landmark marriage equality case coming in the next few months, Bill Newman, director of the western Massachusetts office of the ACLU, looks at how far Massachusetts and the nation have come — and how far we have to go. -RR

Gloucester gets a shout in The Love Part of This, a documentary about the relationship of a lesbian couple, beginning in the 1970s. It's part of the Boston LGBT Film Festival, co-presented by greater Boston LGBT group Go Out Loud, and screens Saturday, May 11, at the Museum of Fine Arts. $11 -CO

Vote for the Civil Liberties Minute! The ACLU of Massachusetts has entered our weekly podcast series into the Looking@Democracy contest, a national competition for media pieces that tell how we might strengthen American democracy together or why government is important to our lives. Vote for us through May 16. -RR

There's got to be at least some overlap between ACLU members and this group: Geeks Who Drink gather in bars and brewpubs for weekly trivia contests throughout the Boston area. There's no cost except whatever you choose to eat and (no pressure) drink. -CO

CO = Christopher Ott, ACLUm Communications Director
RR = Raquel Ronzone, ACLUm Communications Content Specialist

Freedom is more fun!

What creative, provocative, controversial forms of First Amendment expression--and other fun uses of freedom--are we missing? Tell us now.

Two cases before the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court could determine whether people whose convictions were obtained by fraud will continue paying the price for the state drug lab scandal.