We’re Minnesotans. And we’ve been fighting against writing inequality into our state constitution for well over a year now. Check out this video from April, 2011 in which Senator Barb Goodwin of Columbia Heights speaks out against measure SF 1308 – the measure that would seek to allow voters to forever change the Minnesota constitution to limit the rights of marriage.

If you haven’t seen this video, or if it’s been a while, it’s worth taking a couple minutes out of your day to remind yourself that many of our elected officials have spoken out against this mean-spirited amendment – many, before it was even slated to be added to the ballot. Here’s a quick excerpt from Ms. Goodwin’s plea to stand up for equality:

I think it was Senator Limmer that… talked about the consequences that could occur if this [resolution] does not pass. The consequences that could occur affects no one, except the couple that’s united. I don’t understand why people spend so much of their time worrying about how other people are living when it affects nobody else. I think those people need to find something to do.

[The people] put us here to make some of these decisions… to think about what we do and to not discriminate. To expect that we will rise above that, even if sometimes they can’t. They expect us to rise above some of this petty stuff and to get on with the business of government.

With less than 30 days to go, let’s make sure the other side knows that we’ve not lost our conviction to defeat this amendment. Barb Goodwin, thank you – your words were just what I needed this morning.