The Ray Vahey papers consist primarily of photographs, speeches, clippings, and multimedia
chronicling Vahey's life with his partner, Richard Taylor, and their joint campaign against
bans on civil unions, domestic partnerships, and marriage for same-sex couples.
The photographs date from the 1930s to 2006 and document Vahey and Taylor's marriage in May
2006 and the burial and memorial service for Richard Taylor, who died in July 2006.
The speeches relate to the couple's active campaign to oppose the November 2006 referendum
to ban civil unions, domestic partnerships, and marriage for same-sex couples in the state
of Wisconsin.
Multimedia materials in the collection include interviews with Ray Vahey, video footage
from the September 2006 memorial service for Richard Taylor, and Better Angels, a political ad featuring Ray Vahey and produced by the
MassEquality Education Fund to oppose efforts to amend the Massachusetts' state constitution
to forbid same-sex marriage.
