Minnesota Marriage Amendment

Information, facts and articles related to the vote on Marriage that will appear on Minnesotan's ballots in 2012.

Tag: Barack Obama

President Obama on Gay Marriage

You will see a time in which we as a nation finally recognize relationships between two men or two women as just as real and admirable as relationships between a man and a woman.

Barack Obama, President of the United States of America
Source: 2012 Democratic National Convention

If you haven’t seen this video, take a minute out of your day to watch it now. I hope that you’ll be as inspired as I am to hear the President of the United States speak out in support of equality.

How Will Obama Impact Minnesota Marriage?

It’s been a couple weeks now since the President of the United States came out in favor of same-sex marriage. There have been many stories posted since as to whether or not this will help or hurt the Minnesota Marriage Amendment fight.

As you can imagine, both sides claim that it will help their side. Opponents to the amendment say that Obama’s proclamation will help mobilize voters and young people. Proponents of the amendment say that it’s just what they need to help people understand why they must speak up now to define marriage once and for all so that politicians don’t define it for them.

It’ll be interesting to watch this all unfold and read through the analysis on Obama’s decision. While I don’t think his statement will change many minds, I do agree with the article that it should help re-energize and mobilize voters.

Obama’s Gay Marriage Gamble

“Obama’s Gay Marriage Gamble,” that’s what the headline at the Wall Street Journal reads today. According to the article, a New York Times and CBS News poll showed that 67% of respondents think that Obama made the announcement supporting same-sex marriage for “mostly political reasons.” Interesting. What are your thoughts?

Michele Bachmann on Obama’s Support of Gay Marriage

The President’s announcement today shows how out of touch he is with the values of American families. The President continues to practice the politics of division and diversion. He’s tried to divide the country over gender, education, class, and now he’s attempting to divide families all as a diversion to his failed economic policies that have affected all Americans.

…I was proud to introduce the first Constitutional amendment proposal in Minnesota when I served as a Minnesota state senator. I’m pleased that this November Minnesotans will have an opportunity to vote to defend traditional marriage. I will continue to protect traditional marriage, despite our president’s decision to thumb his nose at the traditional institution of marriage.

Michele Bachmann, May 9, 2012
Source: bachmann.house.gov

Bachmann’s response to President Obama announcing his support for gay marriage.

President Barack Obama Affirms Support of Same-Sex Marriage

2-minute clip from ABC News where President Obama affirms his support of same-sex marriage. May 9, 2012, a monumental day in the gay rights movement.

President Barack Obama Endorses Gay Marriage

I’ve just concluded that for me personally it is important for me to go ahead and affirm that I think same-sex couples should be able to get married…

President Barack Obama, May 9, 2012
Source: Washington Post

Truly, a moment in time we will all remember. I was sitting at my desk when an email alert popped up on my computer. I immediately clicked the link and read the news. Even as I type this, I have goosebumps. I’ll post an additional blog tomorrow, but wanted to at least get the President’s statement out there.

Steve Gottwalt Speaks Against Obama’s Support for Minnesota

Frankly, I think it’s unfortunate that the President of the United States is getting involved in a state issue, but that’s certainly his right.

State Representative Steve Gottwalt
Source: The New American

Gottwalt’s response to President Obama speaking out against the Minnesota Marriage Amendment.

Susan Allen’s Response to Obama’s Statements

We thank President Obama for lending his voice to this discussion, and hope it sparks a conversation that Minnesotans will be having in their communities in the months leading up to Election Day about what marriage, family, and freedom really mean to each of us.

Democratic State Representative Susan Allen
Source: The New American

Allen’s response to President Obama speaking out against the Minnesota Marriage Amendment.

Obama Opposes Minnesota Marriage Amendment

Please don’t take my delay in writing about this milestone as a lack of enthusiasm. On the contrary! A family emergency pulled me away from my writing, but we should be back up and running again.

First: Thank you to those who have expressed their support for Minnesota and the writing that I’m doing. I’m very grateful that I’ve had a chance to get to know so many wonderful people through my writing!

Second: Woohoo!!!

Third: Yes, it is true. President Obama’s team issued a statement on the Minnesota Marriage Amendment:

While the President does not weigh in on every single ballot measure in every state, the record is clear that the President has long opposed divisive and discriminatory efforts to deny rights and benefits to same sex couples.  That’s what the Minnesota ballot initiative would do – it would single out and discriminate against committed gay and lesbian couples – and that’s why the President does not support it.

You might recognize the above verbiage. It is very similar to a statement the President made against the mean-spirited marriage amendment, Amendment One, that North Carolina voters will be facing in May.

The President has now gone on record, and has made it known, that he and his administration do not support these “divisive and discriminatory efforts” – let’s hope that the President’s support helps sway enough minds and hearts to get out and vote these mean-spirited amendments down!

Barack Obama on ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’

Change is the fact that for the first time in history you don’t have to hide who you love in order to serve the country that you love… We ended ‘don’t ask, don’t tell.’

President Barack Obama
Source: Politico

The president’s remarks at a rally at a Southern Maine Community College.

The President and Social Issues

Last week, I posted an article that did some analysis on whether or not the President would “come out” on the topic of Gay Marriage in an election year. Since that time, several additional articles have been published on this topic. According to The Washington Post, it may not make sense to speak out on this topic considering how controversy over birth control earlier this year took away from the President’s main message. While he is comfortable talking about wins (think Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell repeal) I don’t believe the President is yet ready to send a strong message on gay marriage… yet.

Anne Hathaway and Gay Marriage

Anne Hathaway quote

I was scrolling through some posts this morning and I stumbled upon this. Of course, being curious, I used Google to learn more about the work and support Anne Hathaway is doing around Gay Marriage.

I must say, I was happy to read about an open letter to President Barack Obama that Ms. Hathaway added her name to last year urging the President to readdress his stance on gay marriage.

In February, you made a powerful statement about the law. We ask you now for your leadership on ending the exclusion of same-sex couples from marriage – an exclusion that harms millions of Americans each day. Whether to end discrimination in marriage is a question America has faced before, and faces again today.

The letter was also signed by other celebs including Ellen and Jane Lynch.

Thank you, Anne.