Dear Colby Bridge members:

To quote Harvey Milk, “I know you’re angry. I’m angry!”

I awoke this morning to learn of the victory of Question One, and like you, the results are discouraging and disheartening, to anyone who believes in civil rights, in justice, in equality, and in love.

It’d be natural for many of us to want to bury our heads in our pillows this morning (as I did, briefly), to begin a time of turning away, of disengaging from the community, from Maine, from our country.

But I want, if I may, to take just a moment to encourage you all to stay in the game, and to have hope. You all did remarkable things this fall; I was so moved to hear such eloquence from so many of you, so moved to see people fighting for families like mine.

I hope you will all respond to this defeat with dignity, with forgiveness, and, after a time, with renewed determination and moxie to keep changing the world.

My older son, aged 15, who was part of a No On 1 contingent at his high school, took the news very hard this morning. To him I quoted Ted Kennedy at the 1980 Democratic convention: “The work goes on, the dream will never die.” I did this in my best Ted Kennedy voice.

Zach responded, without a pause, in his JFK imitation: “We choose to go to the moon! And do the other things! Not because they are easy, but because they are hard!” (pronounced “hahd.”)

I don’t know if we will go to the moon, you lovely, dear Bridge members, and allies– you and I. But I do know that we will continue to do the work, and continue to keep the dream alive.

Not because it is easy, but because it is hard.

Thank you all from the bottom of my heart–and from the heart of my family. We love you.

with thanks, and with warm best wishes,

Jenny Boylan