Yesterday’s polling numbers were a bit of sad news showing that, if we were to vote today, the mean-spirited marriage amendment would pass.
If you were left wondering, “Who is going to vote for this thing?” here is your answer. We need to shake our mindset that it’s “just religious people” or that it’s “just older Minnesotans” or it’s “just republicans” voting for the amendment. Minnesotans from all walks of life are saying “yes” and the breakdown of polling numbers show that as well.
So, am I saying it’s a lost cause? Absolutely not. It highlights, even more, why we need to have the tough conversations with family, friends and co-workers. I guarantee you that the people in this video know LGBTA people. Have those LGBTA friends, neighbors, co-workers, family members… talked about this amendment? Have they shared their personal story to help the folks in this video understand the far-reaching impacts of this amendment?
If we’re not having the conversations, if we’re not volunteering our time, if we’re not telling our stories, we will lose this fight. The polling already tells us that.
So what are we going to do about it? Come on Minnesota, I know we’re better than this!
Note: There is an entire series of “vote yes” commercials just like this one. I posted another one in May of this year and will continue to share so that each of us understands what the yes side looks like. It’s a diverse group of people and we need to remember that, so that we tell our stories and engage all people, not just those that we think will vote yes.
Liz
/ September 14, 2012Please point your readers to the more reliable PPP poll that came out the day after the KSTP/SurveyUSA poll (my app makes it difficult for me to include links). The PPP poll shows a difference of only *one* percentage point: 48% yes and 47% no, I think. And the PPP includes a statement of its methodology, whereas the Survey USA poll doesn’t, making the results rather suspect.
That said, the No votes have never garnered more than 50% in the polls,and we haven’t seen the slick, misleading ads that will send the dangerous message that the rights of one group of Minnesotans should trump the rights of another (eg straight parents’ concerns of what their kids should be taught in school trump GLBT parents’ concerns of what *their* kids should be taught in school; or that the “religious freedom” of socially conservative places of worship should trump the “religious freedom” of socially progressive places of worship).
Minnesota for Equality
/ October 1, 2012Hi Liz,
Thanks for your comment. I try to include each of the polls on the blog that are released. You can find the results of the PPP poll you reference here:
http://minnesotaforequality.com/minnesota-split-on-marriage-amendment/
Additionally, you can find the results of the Star Tribune poll from Sept. 17-19 here:
http://minnesotaforequality.com/amendment-may-not-have-enough-support-to-pass/
Regardless of which poll you look at, to your point above, there hasn’t been a single one that shows our side in the lead. With that said, the percentage of NO voters has absolutely grown as we continue to tell our stories and have the tough conversations with family, friends, neighbors, co-workers and other people in our lives. I truly believe that we are changing hearts and minds and we still have 36 more days to change some more.
Will it be enough to defeat this mean-spirited amendment? I’m certainly optimistic! However, this week, we’ll get our first look at the ads from the other side. With over two dozen billboards going up and a media blitz set to start soon, the gains we’ve made are going to be under full attack.
I hope that everyone reading this blog is ready to stand up with me and challenge the scare tactics – and sometimes outright hate – that the other side will throw our way. You ready?
Thanks again for lending your voice to the conversation, Liz.