For Immediate Release: February 19, 2005
On Thursday, February 17, 2005, DotOUT, Dorchester's gay and lesbian political advocacy group, hosted a fundraiser for Linda Dorcena Forry in which more than $3000 was raised for her campaign for the 12th Suffolk House of Representatives seat. Over 75 people attended the event, held at Cedar Grove Gardens, a tony florist and gift shop owned by DotOUT Steering Committee member Richard O’Mara. Many of Dorchester’s gay and lesbian leaders were in attendance, including business owners, Democratic Party activists and several current and former neighborhood association leaders.
Dorcena Forry earned the endorsement of DotOUT at a January meeting of its members. All five candidates for this seat sought the group’s endorsement and all five attended the meeting although not all of them shared DotOUT’s commitment to fair and equal gay rights. Ultimately, it was Dorcena Forry’s considerable charm as well her personal belief in the right of gays and lesbians to marry and her commitment to vote against a constitutional amendment excluding gays and lesbians from civil marriage rights that earned her DotOUT’s endorsement. She also earned the respect of DotOUT members by affirming her support for a women’s right to choose, the restoration of AIDS funding, as well as her stands on education, health care and affordable housing.
Also in attendance at the fundraiser were several representatives from Mass Equality and the Freedom to Marry coalition. Both organizations have joined DotOUT in endorsing Dorcena Forry.
To learn more about DotOUT and its endorsement, please go to DotOUT’s webpage, www.dotout.org.
##