Two questions to help you decide your vote on the Minnesota Marriage Amendment

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  1. If Pat and Chris want to form a business partnership in your home state, should their genders play any role in determining whether that partnership is legal?
  2. Should the government play any role in deciding the rules regarding religious ceremonies like christenings and bar mitzvahs?

Conservatives, take note: As University of Chicago economics professor Richard Thaler Continue Reading

Senate attempt to repeal anti-gay amendment fails

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An attempt to repeal an anti-gay marriage amendment failed in a Senate committee on Wednesday. Rep. Mary Jo McGuire of Falcon Heights (pictured, above) attempted to amend a proposed — and controversial — voter ID constitutional amendment with language that would repeal the anti-gay marriage amendment. The effort failed along party lines.McGuire made the motion in the Local Government and Elections committee on Wednesday afternoon.“I’m giving you an opportunity to actually repeal something we already passed, a constitutional amendment on defining marriage, which I absolutely think should not be in our constitution,” she said.Committee Chair Ray Vandeveer, a Republican from Forest Lake, tried at first to prevent a vote on the amendment saying it was not germane. When pressed, however, a Senate lawyer said it could go through.Sen. Warren Limmer, a Republican from Maple Grove and the chief sponsor of the anti-gay marriage amendment last year, demanded that the vote be recorded in the Senate Journal.McGuire’s motion failed along party lines, 8 nos and 6 yeses.Two bills to repeal the anti-gay marriage amendment remain alive in both the House and the Senate, though it’s unlikely either will get a hearing from Republican committee chairs.“This fall, Minnesota voters will be asked whether we should amend our state’s constitution to ban marriage for loving, caring and committed same-sex couples,” McGuire said after the vote. “Leading up to the election, Minnesota families will be subjected to a negative and expensive campaign that threatens to marginalize one group of people and deeply divide our state. Continue Reading

Minnesota rabbis oppose marriage amendment

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On Nov. 6, Minnesota voters will be asked this question: “Shall the Minnesota Constitution be amended to provide that only a union of one man and one woman shall be valid or recognized as a marriage in Minnesota?”The Minnesota Rabbinical Association (MRA) — comprised of 35 rabbis and 15 synagogues — as well as Jewish Community Action (JCA) and other local organizations are urging Jews, and all Minnesotans, to vote “no.”On Jan. 18, MRA members unanimously adopted a statement opposing the proposed marriage amendment. The rabbis’ statement noted that the “Minnesota state constitution attempts to protect the rights of our citizens rather than to deny them,” while the proposed marriage amendment “seeks to continue the practice of leaving individual families within the LGBT [lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender] community vulnerable and unprotected by the law. To honor an individual is to fight against discrimination in society for any reason, including race, religion, natural origin, gender, age or sexual orientation. Continue Reading

Working for my peeps (not Peeps)

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I called my sister last weekend and asked her to meet me in the Twin Cities. I had a meeting with ART and I told her we’d be “working for the gays.” She suggested that somehow we try putting “working for our gay peeps” into our mission statement. Continue Reading

Unions mobilize to stop amendment banning same-sex marriage

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Labor unions across Minnesota are forging new and dynamic alliances in their communities to fight a proposed amendment to the state constitution that would ban same-sex marriage. Though similar anti-marriage efforts led by right-wing conservatives have been successful in 29 other states, Robert Carlbom of Minnesotans United for All Families, the umbrella organization leading efforts to defeat the ballot initiative, says that organized labor has been crucial to building a strong opposition movement in Minnesota.”One of the key differences of how the battle is unfolding in Minnesota has been that the coalition against this amendment has united early and includes union members on our board of directors, which helps a great deal in getting our message out across the state,” he said. “Union members know how to organize. But, we still have to work very hard. It’s going to be an uphill battle. Continue Reading

New poll shows anti-gay marriage amendment battle is tight

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A poll released by Public Policy Polling on Friday shows that both sides of the anti-gay marriage amendment are under 50 percent. 48 percent of voters said they support the amendment and 44 percent say they are opposed. The margin of error is 2.8 percent. 8 percent said they weren’t sure, a considerable number given Minnesota quirky ballot measure laws.The poll, conducted last Saturday and Sunday shows that 58 percent of those older than those age 65 would vote for the measure, 23 percent of Democrats intend to vote for it, as well as 50 percent of independents and 74 percent of Republicans. Minority voters are more likely to vote for the amendment at 51 percent to 48 percent of white voters.54 percent of voters under age 29 intend to vote against it, compared to 43 percent who intend to vote for it. Continue Reading

Legislators propose repeal of anti-gay marriage amendment

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DFL legislators in the Minnesota House introduced a bill during the legislative recess on Friday to repeal a constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriage from the 2012 ballot. The bill faces high hurdles as the Republicans still control the House.Here’s text of the bill:H.F. No. 1885, as introduced – 87th Legislative Session (2011-2012) Posted on Jan 13, 2012A bill for an act relating to marriage; repealing a proposed amendment to the Minnesota Constitution recognizing marriage as only a union between one man and one woman;repealing Laws 2011, chapter 88. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:Section 1. REPEALER. Continue Reading