Tag Archives: Minnesotans United for All Families

by | May 8, 2013 · 3:19 pm

Same-Sex Marriage Close to Reality in Minnesota

Well, thank goodness, we appear to be very near the end of this battle for equality and social justice when it comes to same-sex marriage.  As I blogged about previously:

When Republicans pushed to amend the Minnesota Constitution to ban gay marriage, I would have liked to have heard whether anyone in the room thought to speak up and say hmmm…, are we going to lose and in the process of losing create a massive, grass-roots organization of gay rights supporters that will then pass gay rights legislation in the next legislative session?  I’m thinking that everyone was so overconfident that they never gave that a serious thought.  Well, that’s fine with me, because it is about time we had a conversation about whether it is right to deny committed gay relationships the legal recognition that they deserve.

Now, tomorrow, Tuesday, May 9, 2013, the Minnesota House is scheduled to vote to make same-sex marriage law.  The odds are apparently good that it will pass.  Then, according to the Star Trib, the Senate is expected to pass it also.  The Governor has always supported the bill and has said he will sign it into law.

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by | December 21, 2012 · 4:52 pm

Gay Marriage on Agenda for 2013 Minnesota Legislative Session

When Republicans pushed to amend the Minnesota Constitution to ban gay marriage, I would have liked to have heard whether anyone in the room thought to speak up and say hmmm…, are we going to lose and in the process of losing create a massive, grass-roots organization of gay rights supporters that will then pass gay rights legislation in the next legislative session?  I’m thinking that everyone was so overconfident that they never gave that a serious thought.  Well, that’s fine with me, because it is about time we had a conversation about whether it is right to deny committed gay relationships the legal recognition that they deserve.

Here’s an article on the upcoming gay marriage push in the 2013 Minnesota Legislature titled Minnesota’s Marriage Fight Will Flare Anew at Capital.

From the article:

Both sides of the marriage amendment fight are reuniting their troops as they prepare for what is rapidly emerging as the next frontier in the battle — a push to legalize same-sex marriage in the Legislature.

“Our intention is to make sure gay and lesbian couples have the freedom to marry after the 2013 legislative session,” said Richard Carlbom, campaign manager for Minnesotans United for All Families. The group is reconfiguring its operation that defeated the proposed marriage amendment on Election Day.

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by | September 29, 2011 · 4:20 pm

Marriage Amendment to MN Constitution to be Voted Upon in 2012 Election

I’m interested in how the political and legal debate develops around the issue of same-sex marriage. I had the opportunity to record a Skype conversation with OutFront Minnesota’s legal director, Phil Duran, about the marriage amendment to the Minnesota Minnesota Constitution that will be voted on by Minnesota citizens (along with voting on the various political races) during the 2012 election.

For a little background, this is from a 05/23/2011 news post on the Minnesotans United for All Families website:

An antigay marriage ballot measure approved over the weekend by Minnesota state lawmakers is already setting the stage for a deeply divisive campaign of national importance.
On Saturday, the Minnesota house voted 70 to 62 in favor of the bill, which allows voters in 2012 to decide whether to adopt a constitutional amendment banning marriage equality. The vote came after hours of debate and days of impassioned Capitol rallies on both sides of the debate.

Minnesotans United for All Families is the name of a coalition of organizations, which includes OutFront Minnesota, that are against the amendment.

The issue brings up questions about whether there should be something called Civil Union. Whether same-sex and hetero couples should all be grouped into Civil Unions rather than calling the state-sanctioned title marriage. Also, if there is such a thing as Civil Union, is that inherently unequal to marriage? Will the amendment be supported by the more libertarian wing of the republican electorate, since it appears to impinge on private ideals of freedom? Will this hurt the fragile Minnesota economy by scaring off potential employers, employees and those looking to start a business in Minnesota? Does this help anyone or is it just a flexing of religious/political muscle to impress a base constituancy?

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