FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 10/18/2006

Bridgewater College To Host Gay Marriage Debate

BRIDGEWATER, Va. — Bridgewater College will host a gay marriage debate between former Massachusetts State Senator Cheryl Jacques and John H. Rogers, majority leader for the Massachusetts House of Representatives, at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 2, in Cole Hall.

Jacques was a six-term Massachusetts state senator and president of the Human Rights Campaign. A national leader in the gay civil rights movement, Jacques was the first openly gay state senator in Massachusetts history. She was a leading Senate advocate for civil rights, consumer protection, criminal justices and victims' rights. In 2002, she led a bi-partisan coalition of legislators to defeat the so-called Defense of Marriage Act in Massachusetts.

She has appeared as a commentator on the CBS Evening News, NBC Nightly News, ABC's World News Tonight, The O'Reilly Factor, CrossFire and CNN.

She received a B.S. degree from Boston College, and a J.D. degree from Suffolk University Law School. She is a member of the law firm of Brody, Hardoon, Perkins & Kesten.

Rogers, the majority leader for the Massachusetts House of Representatives, is currently serving his seventh term. He serves on the House Committee on Rules, and has been recognized for his leadership and dedication in the areas of the judiciary, education, environmental protection and human services.

Rogers received a B.A. degree from Brandeis University and a J.D. degree from Suffolk University Law School.

Sponsored by the Anna B. Mow Endowed Lecture Series, the debate is open to the public at no charge.

Bridgewater College, a private, four-year liberal arts college, enrolls more than 1,500 students. Founded in 1880 and located in the Central Shenandoah Valley of Virginia, it was the state's first private, coeducational senior college.

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