Mass Equality Hosting Conference for Gay Activists in Boston Today
        After a summer of setbacks for them, gay rights activists from across the country are convening in Massachusetts today to regroup and brainstorm about how to bolster their campaign.
        The activists were joined Wednesday night by state legislators, and will continue today (Thursday) as they address issues such as hate crimes, same-sex marriage, school safety and adoption.
        Mass Equality is hoping to reinvigorate its political base for the upcoming Constitutional Convention, which resumes November 9, 2006, two days after the general election. It was recessed to that date to avoid having the gay marriage issue affect the outcomes of any of the elections of the Senators and Reps.
        Mass Equality and the Gay and Lesbian Political Caucus are still dealing with the fact that their only full-time lobbyist, William Conley, was arrested last month while soliciting to pay for homosexual sex from students at UMass. Conley was the architect not only for the timing of the convention, but also the vote which created an independent Gay and Lesbian Commission on Youth.
        The meeting also comes on the heels of a decision by New York’s highest that forbad gay marriage under the state constitution. Since Massachusetts became the first state to legally perform gay marriages in 2003, states across the country have overwhelmingly passed constitutional bans gay marriage. The Boston gathering kicked off with a reception Wednesday night at Club Café and has a full slate of meetings planned for today at the Park Plaza Hotel.