Chris Mason (activist)
Encyclopedia
Christopher Michael Mason (born December 14, 1981) is an American LGBT
activist in the state of Massachusetts
. He is the founder of Phelps-A-Thon.com
, Progressive Approach, Inc., TakeMassAction, Bated Breath Films, co-founder of Join The Impact Massachusetts, and the filmmaker behind The Driving Equality Project.
, son of Karen and Tom Mason. He is the third of four children. At age 9, Chris started an organization named S.C.A.R.F (Save Condemned Amazon Rain-Forest). He recruited members and together they canvassed door-to-door to raise money. With the money they raised, S.C.A.R.F. was able to buy and preserve an acre of land in the Amazon rainforest.
In 1996, when Chris was 14 years old, he came out to his parents, friends, family, and classmates. At age 15, Chris started a campaign to expel military recruiters from his high school based on the district’s non-discrimination policy. He was the president of the gay/straight alliance
and worked to educate others at school and in the community on LGBT issues.
After high school Chris attended Bunker Hill Community College
before transferring to Tufts University
where he is currently working toward a bachelor's degree in Sociology
, with a focus in Social Inequalities and Social Change.
Koeck's campaign highlighted the right of same-sex couples to marry, as her opponent, State Representative Emile Goguen sought to remove the four Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court justices that voted in favor of same-sex marriage.
Later in 2004, Chris began working as a field organizer for MassEquality, the Boston-based organization created to lead the legislative battle to keep same-sex marriage legal in Massachusetts. He also worked as the Assistant Canvass Director, knocking on doors across the state to discuss marriage equality with Massachusetts citizens. Chris is featured in the documentary film, Saving Marriage, highlighting his role working to protect equal marriage rights in Massachusetts.
In 2006, he created TakeMassAction, a watchdog organization dedicated to tracking the radical right in Massachusetts and alerting the LGBT community of upcoming events, rallies, protests, and legislative hearings involving LGBT issues.
On February 5, 2008, Chris was elected to Ward 1 of the Cambridge Democratic City Committee. Later that year he was appointed Commissioner to the City of Cambridge GLBT Commission by the Cambridge City Manager.
On April 27, 2009, at a ceremony in Cambridge City Hall, Chris was honored by Mayor Denise Simmons
for his work on LGBT issues, including fundraising for Cambridge Rindge and Latin School
’s gay/straight alliance, Project 10 East, and the school's LGBT Families Initiative by means of a Phelps-A-Thon during an anti-gay protest against the school. During the ceremony, Chris was presented with the Key to the City of Cambridge.
Later in 2009, Chris launched Bated Breath Films, an independent film company focused on social justice and raising awareness by telling the personal stories of people who do not have a voice in today’s mass media.
In June of 2010, at the "Riots to Rights - Celebrating 40 Years of Progress" Cambridge Pride Brunch, Chris was honored by Cambridge Mayor David Maher and received the annual recognition award given to “those who have dedicated their lives to improving the GLBT community”.
, a conservative organization based in Massachusetts and identified as a hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center. The organization posted false information, photos and videos of Chris, along with edited snippets of his writings, on their website, describing him as a being a "prominent homosexual activist" with "a long history of hateful and angry activities and writing against pro-family groups and individuals.” MassResistance started a campaign to have Chris removed from his job at the Massachusetts State House, urging readers to contact Senate President Therese Murray. After a November 2008 rally, the hate grouped charged Chris with being "a hardcore homosexual activist with a long history of venom and rage against people of faith."
(WBC) and interviewed Shirley Phelps-Roper
, a church member who often protests with signs that read "god hates fags". He also interviewed Daniel Nicoletta
, protege of Harvey Milk
, in San Francisco. While traveling through Indiana, Chris was stopped by the Indiana State Police. After discussing the pro-LGBT mission of his project, he was allowed to leave but followed for serval miles. Upon stopping at a rest area, the Driving Equality van was surrounded and searched by five police officers, damaging professional equipment. The first part of The Driving Equality Project, the equality drive, is complete. Part two; a documentary of Chris' experience on the road, with the aim of activating a discussion about potential strategies for ensuring equality, has a tentative release date in summer of 2011.
as a counter-protest against members of the Westboro Baptist Church, and their leader, Rev. Fred Phelps
, who were picketing a production of "The Laramie Project
" at the Boston Center for the Arts. The event raised over $1,000 for the pro-LGBT project, Driving Equality. After this first Phelps-A-Thon, people from around the country, upon learning they were going to be picketed by WBC, started contacting Chris, asking for help in setting up their own Phelps-A-Thons.
Phelps-A-Thon.com assists groups that are being picketed by WBC in setting up a Telethon type of counter-protest. Through the “Phelps-A-Thon.com” website, supporters are able to pledge online to donate a certain amount of money for every minute WBC pickets against a specific target, usually LGBT or Jewish groups. The longer they protest, the more money they raise for the cause they are demonstrating against.
During a trek across the country to promote LGBT equality, Chris stopped in Topeka, Kansas to visit the Westboro Baptist Church. Concealing his activist identity, he sat down for a conversation with Shirley Phelps-Roper
, the daughter of Fred Phelps, to get a better understanding of why the groups feels the need to spread their hateful message. In a video clip of the interview, Chris asks Shirley her opinion of the Phelps-A-Thon counter-protests that, unbeknownst to her, he organizes and promotes. Shirley tells Chris that people pledging to the Phelps-A-Thons should "give a lot of money." She continues on to say, "if you are giving over your soul, make it worthwhile. Don't be lame."
LGBT
LGBT is an initialism that collectively refers to "lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender" people. In use since the 1990s, the term "LGBT" is an adaptation of the initialism "LGB", which itself started replacing the phrase "gay community" beginning in the mid-to-late 1980s, which many within the...
activist in the state of Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
. He is the founder of Phelps-A-Thon.com
Phelps-A-Thon
Phelps-A-Thon.com is a Boston-based, pro-LGBT website working to counteract the message spread by the Westboro Baptist Church and their leader, Rev. Fred Phelps. It works by channeling passions against WBC into donations for groups targeted by the WBC's pickets.Phelps-A-Thon.com assists groups...
, Progressive Approach, Inc., TakeMassAction, Bated Breath Films, co-founder of Join The Impact Massachusetts, and the filmmaker behind The Driving Equality Project.
Early life
Chris grew up in Lunenburg, MassachusettsLunenburg, Massachusetts
Lunenburg is a town in Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 10,086 at the 2010 census.For geographic and demographic information on the census-designated place Lunenburg, please see the article Lunenburg , Massachusetts....
, son of Karen and Tom Mason. He is the third of four children. At age 9, Chris started an organization named S.C.A.R.F (Save Condemned Amazon Rain-Forest). He recruited members and together they canvassed door-to-door to raise money. With the money they raised, S.C.A.R.F. was able to buy and preserve an acre of land in the Amazon rainforest.
In 1996, when Chris was 14 years old, he came out to his parents, friends, family, and classmates. At age 15, Chris started a campaign to expel military recruiters from his high school based on the district’s non-discrimination policy. He was the president of the gay/straight alliance
Gay-straight alliance
Gay–straight alliances are student organizations, found primarily in North American high schools and universities, that are intended to provide a safe and supportive environment for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender youth and their straight allies .-Goal:The goal of most, if not all,...
and worked to educate others at school and in the community on LGBT issues.
After high school Chris attended Bunker Hill Community College
Bunker Hill Community College
Bunker Hill Community College is a two-year community college located in Charlestown, Boston, Massachusetts. It is an urban campus with over 10,000 students. Six in ten students are people of color and more than half of all students are women. There are 650 international students attending BHCC;...
before transferring to Tufts University
Tufts University
Tufts University is a private research university located in Medford/Somerville, near Boston, Massachusetts. It is organized into ten schools, including two undergraduate programs and eight graduate divisions, on four campuses in Massachusetts and on the eastern border of France...
where he is currently working toward a bachelor's degree in Sociology
Sociology
Sociology is the study of society. It is a social science—a term with which it is sometimes synonymous—which uses various methods of empirical investigation and critical analysis to develop a body of knowledge about human social activity...
, with a focus in Social Inequalities and Social Change.
Activism
In 2004, Chris was the campaign manager for Susan Koeck, a candidate for State Representative in the city of Fitchburg, Massachusetts.Fitchburg, Massachusetts
Fitchburg is the third largest city in Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 40,318 at the 2010 census. Fitchburg is home to Fitchburg State University as well as 17 public and private elementary and high schools.- History :...
Koeck's campaign highlighted the right of same-sex couples to marry, as her opponent, State Representative Emile Goguen sought to remove the four Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court justices that voted in favor of same-sex marriage.
Later in 2004, Chris began working as a field organizer for MassEquality, the Boston-based organization created to lead the legislative battle to keep same-sex marriage legal in Massachusetts. He also worked as the Assistant Canvass Director, knocking on doors across the state to discuss marriage equality with Massachusetts citizens. Chris is featured in the documentary film, Saving Marriage, highlighting his role working to protect equal marriage rights in Massachusetts.
In 2006, he created TakeMassAction, a watchdog organization dedicated to tracking the radical right in Massachusetts and alerting the LGBT community of upcoming events, rallies, protests, and legislative hearings involving LGBT issues.
On February 5, 2008, Chris was elected to Ward 1 of the Cambridge Democratic City Committee. Later that year he was appointed Commissioner to the City of Cambridge GLBT Commission by the Cambridge City Manager.
On April 27, 2009, at a ceremony in Cambridge City Hall, Chris was honored by Mayor Denise Simmons
E. Denise Simmons
E. Denise Simmons was the mayor of Cambridge, Massachusetts during the 2008-2009 term, and she was the first openly lesbian African-American mayor in the United States. The previous mayor of Cambridge, Kenneth Reeves, was the first openly gay African-American mayor in the United States...
for his work on LGBT issues, including fundraising for Cambridge Rindge and Latin School
Cambridge Rindge and Latin School
The Cambridge Rindge and Latin School is a public high school in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States.The school, serving grades 9 through 12, is a part of the Cambridge Public Schools....
’s gay/straight alliance, Project 10 East, and the school's LGBT Families Initiative by means of a Phelps-A-Thon during an anti-gay protest against the school. During the ceremony, Chris was presented with the Key to the City of Cambridge.
Later in 2009, Chris launched Bated Breath Films, an independent film company focused on social justice and raising awareness by telling the personal stories of people who do not have a voice in today’s mass media.
In June of 2010, at the "Riots to Rights - Celebrating 40 Years of Progress" Cambridge Pride Brunch, Chris was honored by Cambridge Mayor David Maher and received the annual recognition award given to “those who have dedicated their lives to improving the GLBT community”.
Targeted by Hate Group
In May 2007, November 2008, and again in May 2009; Chris was targeted by MassResistanceMassResistance
MassResistance is a Massachusetts anti-gay group that promotes socially conservative positions primarily on issues surrounding homosexuality, the transgender community and same-sex marriage. It was formed in 2006 as a consolidation of the Parents' Rights Coalition and the Article 8 Alliance...
, a conservative organization based in Massachusetts and identified as a hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center. The organization posted false information, photos and videos of Chris, along with edited snippets of his writings, on their website, describing him as a being a "prominent homosexual activist" with "a long history of hateful and angry activities and writing against pro-family groups and individuals.” MassResistance started a campaign to have Chris removed from his job at the Massachusetts State House, urging readers to contact Senate President Therese Murray. After a November 2008 rally, the hate grouped charged Chris with being "a hardcore homosexual activist with a long history of venom and rage against people of faith."
The Driving Equality Project
On May 10, 2009, Chris set off on a 107-day, 22,000 mile, 48-state trek across the United States in an effort to raise awareness of the various forms of discrimination faced by the LGBT community in each state of the nation. Highlighting the differences in rights, laws, and amendments between the states, the project hopes to shed light on the current social standing of LGBT individuals today. Chris conducted interviews with LGBT activist, allies, and opponents across the country. During the trip Chris stopped at the Westboro Baptist ChurchWestboro Baptist Church
The Westboro Baptist Church is an independent Baptist church known for its extreme stance against homosexuality and its protest activities, which include picketing funerals and desecrating the American flag. The church is widely described as a hate group and is monitored as such by the...
(WBC) and interviewed Shirley Phelps-Roper
Shirley Phelps-Roper
Shirley Lynn Phelps-Roper is an American lawyer and political activist. She is best known as the spokesperson of the controversial Westboro Baptist Church of Topeka, Kansas, an organization known for its highly publicized public protests conducted under the slogan "God Hates...
, a church member who often protests with signs that read "god hates fags". He also interviewed Daniel Nicoletta
Daniel Nicoletta
Daniel Nicoletta is an American photographer, photo journalist and gay rights activist.-Biography:Born in New York City, Daniel Nicoletta was raised in Utica, NY. In his late teens he left New York to attend San Francisco State University, later graduating from the Bachelor of Arts program...
, protege of Harvey Milk
Harvey Milk
Harvey Bernard Milk was an American politician who became the first openly gay man to be elected to public office in California when he won a seat on the San Francisco Board of Supervisors...
, in San Francisco. While traveling through Indiana, Chris was stopped by the Indiana State Police. After discussing the pro-LGBT mission of his project, he was allowed to leave but followed for serval miles. Upon stopping at a rest area, the Driving Equality van was surrounded and searched by five police officers, damaging professional equipment. The first part of The Driving Equality Project, the equality drive, is complete. Part two; a documentary of Chris' experience on the road, with the aim of activating a discussion about potential strategies for ensuring equality, has a tentative release date in summer of 2011.
Phelps-A-Thon
On December 12, 2008, Chris conducted his first Phelps-A-ThonPhelps-A-Thon
Phelps-A-Thon.com is a Boston-based, pro-LGBT website working to counteract the message spread by the Westboro Baptist Church and their leader, Rev. Fred Phelps. It works by channeling passions against WBC into donations for groups targeted by the WBC's pickets.Phelps-A-Thon.com assists groups...
as a counter-protest against members of the Westboro Baptist Church, and their leader, Rev. Fred Phelps
Fred Phelps
Fred Waldron Phelps, Sr. is an American pastor heading the Westboro Baptist Church , an independent Baptist church based in Topeka, Kansas...
, who were picketing a production of "The Laramie Project
The Laramie Project
The Laramie Project is a play by Moisés Kaufman and members of the Tectonic Theater Project about the reaction to the 1998 murder of University of Wyoming gay student Matthew Shepard in Laramie,...
" at the Boston Center for the Arts. The event raised over $1,000 for the pro-LGBT project, Driving Equality. After this first Phelps-A-Thon, people from around the country, upon learning they were going to be picketed by WBC, started contacting Chris, asking for help in setting up their own Phelps-A-Thons.
Phelps-A-Thon.com assists groups that are being picketed by WBC in setting up a Telethon type of counter-protest. Through the “Phelps-A-Thon.com” website, supporters are able to pledge online to donate a certain amount of money for every minute WBC pickets against a specific target, usually LGBT or Jewish groups. The longer they protest, the more money they raise for the cause they are demonstrating against.
During a trek across the country to promote LGBT equality, Chris stopped in Topeka, Kansas to visit the Westboro Baptist Church. Concealing his activist identity, he sat down for a conversation with Shirley Phelps-Roper
Shirley Phelps-Roper
Shirley Lynn Phelps-Roper is an American lawyer and political activist. She is best known as the spokesperson of the controversial Westboro Baptist Church of Topeka, Kansas, an organization known for its highly publicized public protests conducted under the slogan "God Hates...
, the daughter of Fred Phelps, to get a better understanding of why the groups feels the need to spread their hateful message. In a video clip of the interview, Chris asks Shirley her opinion of the Phelps-A-Thon counter-protests that, unbeknownst to her, he organizes and promotes. Shirley tells Chris that people pledging to the Phelps-A-Thons should "give a lot of money." She continues on to say, "if you are giving over your soul, make it worthwhile. Don't be lame."