MassEquality says 'Thanks'

"How do you thank a whole movement?" asks MassEquality Development Director Scott Gortikov during a recent interview. From intrepid canvassers to phone-banking PFLAG moms, from persuasive people of faith to well-heeled donors who opened their hearts and their wallets, Gortikov notes that during the past four years, "tens and tens of thousands of people" have acted to preserve marriage equality in Massachusetts. "Think about any one of these groups," says Gortikov. "If they didn't put their shoulders to the wheel, would we have gotten here?"

Planning a fun, fabulous celebration to thank each and every one of them posed a unique challenge. If Gortikov and company chose the standard format - as in something along the lines of black-tie- rubber-chicken-here's your award-now applaud and go home - he says, "we would be there for 14 days." So Gortikov and fellow development staffers Michael Rousseau and Theresa Santangelo cooked up something a little different: A loungey atmosphere with comfy couches and chairs, hors d'ouvres and carving stations, fancy cocktails (Equalitini, anyone?) and dancing, where guests won't be trapped at tables or held captive by a windy speechifier long after the wine carafe has been drained of its last drop. Victory: The MassEquality Gala will take place on Dec. 5 from 7 to 10 p.m. at the Cyclorama, a venue whose circular design lend itself quite well, to um, circulating.

"We wanted a celebration where we could actually come under one tent ... to celebrate, but we [also] wanted the chance for everyone to see each other and get how many different kinds of people and how many people it took to make history," says Gortikov.

Among the ways MassEquality will honor the army of marriage equality activists and advocates is with the creation of banners bearing all of their names, which will be draped around the Cyclorama's circular space. The banners, Gortikov explains, will "invoke and illustrate this idea that it was citizens from all walks of life who made this movement possible all under one tent. So you're surrounded by these heroes. It's not one or two symbolic heroes it's thousands." What made MassEquality different and powerful, he adds, was that it gave others the tools to empower themselves to get the job done. "So that's why there are thousands of heroes for an event like this."

The gala will also serve as a coming out of sorts for the new MassEquality, which, in addition to working to re-elect pro-equality legislators in 2008, now aims to advocate on other LGBT issues in Massachusetts and help other New England states achieve marriage equality. "This is our first opportunity to publicly talk about our compelling vision for the future," says Gortikov. "We're really clear that the work's not done."

The event will be emceed by openly gay news anchor Randy Price, "which is wonderful," Gortikov observes, "because I think he's a client, too." Beyond that, he's keeping mum about any other special guests, tricks or treats. "I think I don't want to give away too many surprises," says Gortikov.