Minnesota for Equality gets quoted!
Imagine my surprise when my phone buzzed this afternoon with the text:
YOU WERE QUOTED ON GLOBALPOST.COM [emphasis his]
Well sure enough, in an article titled “Minnesota marriage amendment a tight race,” Alex Pearlman includes a quote I shared about Frank Schubert and his strategy.
Schubert’s work via the National Organization for Marriage, which handles a significant amount of the contributions to block gay marriage amendments nation-wide has been accused of “twisting the truth” being “mean-spirited” and using “scare tactics” both in Minnesota and across the country.
“While there is nothing illegal about Schubert’s strategy, this behavior highlights the type of people that are running the campaign for amendment support. Schubert could care less about having a conversation and encouraging Minnesotans to consider both sides of the issue,” writes a blogger who goes by Mark and runs the site Minnesota for Equality. “He will do whatever it takes to make sure this mean-spirited amendment passes, and so far, his strategies have proven extremely successful.”
Is it weird that I just quoted someone that quoted me? :)
Polls are still open for just under 4 more hours. Let’s keep getting the word out and ensure that Minnesota votes NO!
State Representative John Kriesel on marriage amendment
[Cpl. Andrew Wilfahrt] gave his life in Afghanistan protecting our freedoms. He was gay. I cannot look at this picture and say, corporal, you are good enough to fight for your country and give your life, but you are not good enough to marry the person you love.
John Kriesel, State Representative
Source: South Washington County Bulletin
This quote is from Republican Representative John Kriesel’s speech before the Minnesota House of Representatives in which he argued against putting up for a popular vote whether or not we should limit the rights of marriage. He was one of only two Republicans that voted against the amendment.
Earlier this week, I posted the 5th television spot that Minnesotans United for All Families released in which they incorporate part of Kriesel’s speech.
A powerful reminder that this amendment impacts REAL Minnesotans. I hope you will join me in saying NO to writing discrimination into our state constitution.
Martin Luther King, Jr. on threat of injustice
Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly.
Martin Luther King, Jr.
Source: Wikiquote
Erin Keyes included this quote in her recent feature on MinnPost. While I shared Erin’s letter earlier, this quote was worthy of sharing on its own.
I’ve said it many times before via this blog, if this mean-spirited amendment passes, which marginalizes a small group of Minnesota citizens, we need to ask, “Who’s next?” Read First They Came… for a powerful reminder of why we must all stand together in support of equality and say NO to amending our state constitution to limit the rights of the minority.
Lutherans divided on amendment
Most Lutherans supportive of natural marriage are less vocal than the handful of activists calling for a radical redefinition of the time-tested institution upon which every human society has been founded. Lutherans usually are a modest and quiet bunch. I ought to know: My wife and I had a potluck for our Lutheran wedding reception.
But even modest and quiet people vote, and I foresee a good number of Lutherans joining me in checking “Yes” for a constitutional protection of natural marriage.
Ryan C. MacPherson, founding president, Hausvater Project
Source: MPR News
MacPherson argues that, despite what you may read in the daily news, many Lutherans support the divisive marriage amendment on ballots this fall.
Unfortunately, even though polling in recent days has show a swing in the Vote No direction, I do worry that what MacPherson says is true. Voters are less likely to voice an unpopular opinion when polled than when they are in the voting booth. This is why it is so important that in these final days up until November 6th, each and every one of us is out telling stories, talking to friends, family, neighbors and even volunteering to talk to strangers with Minnesotans United.
The fight for equality is just too important – we must never give up. Let’s show the world that Minnesotans stand up for each other, no matter what.
Pink’s marriage views
I think that the best day will be when we no longer talk about being gay or straight – it’s not a ‘gay wedding’ it’s just a ‘wedding’, it’s not a ‘gay marriage’ it’s just ‘a marriage’.
Pink, Pop Star, September 19, 2012
Source: Pink News
Pink shares her views on same-sex marriage in an interview on GaydarRadio’s breakfast show.
Minnesota for Marriage is confident
We are confident that as we continue our final outreach effort, the voices of the majority of Minnesotans will speak louder at the polls than the amount of money wasted in a futile attempt to convince people that men and women are interchangeable, and the Marriage Amendment will pass on November 6th.
John Helmberger, Chairman, Minnesota for Marriage
Source: MinnPost.com
Helmberger is quoted in an article about fundraising efforts by Minnesota for Marriage, the group that supports the mean-spirited amendment.
Minnesota for Marriage has raised nearly $1.2 million dollars so far in 2012, compared to $5.96 million raised by Minnesotans United for All Families. Helmberger had this to say about the fundraising disparity:
We’ve never been surprised by the amount of money wealthy same-sex ‘marriage’ activists are willing to pour into their attempt to change the minds of Minnesotans on the definition of marriage. In fact, we predicted over a year ago that we would be outspent 3 or 4 to 1.
Interesting that he chose to call out the “amount of money wasted” considering his side put this thing on the ballot in the first place! Oh the irony.
Marie Blumhardt of Bemiji speaks against amendment
Minnesota is a place of fairness and freedom and treating others as we would like to be treated. I’m voting NO in November on this unfair, ridiculous amendment. I support love, and I support commitment, and I support marriage – for all families. I encourage you to do the same.
Marie Blumhardt, Bemidji
Source: The Bemidji Pioneer
In August, I shared a different quote from Marie Blumhardt. She shared her thoughts with The Bemidji Pinoeer on the marriage amendment. Take a minute to read her letter in its entirety, as her words are inspiring. It gives me great hope that people like Blumhardt are educating the leaders of our future.
Reverend Jacson Moody on amendment
I believe very strongly that the Civil Rights Movement extends out to [LGBT] individuals… We all should have equal rights. We are on the wrong side of history on November 6 by voting for the amendment. It is going to cause barriers and walls to be built up around a segment of our society that is truly deserving of a right to share a piece of the American Dream. I do not agree nor do I support the amendment. And as a Black clergy person, I know that I am…in the minority of Black clergy, but I find it appalling that people that have suffered the way African Americans have suffered in this country, that we can come out against any segment of our society.
Reverend Jacson Moody, Holsey Memorial Christian Methodist Episcopal Church
Source: TC Daily Planet
Moody is quoted in an article that speaks to how the marriage amendment is dividing African American Christians and clergy.
State Fair-goers share opinions on marriage
Marriage is between a man and a woman. If you got morals and you got values, that’s just how it is. That’s the way the country was set up and I just believe that’s the way it should be.
Dean Munson, Chokio, Minnesota
Source: MPR
Respectfully, I’ll have to disagree with Mr. Munson. You see, I have both morals and values, and I still disagree with the mean-spirited amendment. To imply that those who support equality don’t have morals and values is a bit insulting. And how about those that simply think this is a step too far? Allowing the majority to vote on the rights of the minority and enshrining that forever into our State Constitution. If I knew Mr. Munson, I’d encourage him to read a note I wrote a few weeks back on that same topic. I don’t know that it would change his mind, but I bet we would have a really good conversation.
After all, that’s been my message for some time now. This election may very well come down to those simple conversations…
Rachel Maddow: “Here’s the thing about rights…”
In the past decade, 31 states put to a vote the question of whether or not gay people should be allowed to get married. 31 states have put those minority rights up to a vote and in all 31 of those states, that minority rights issue has gone down to defeat. But here’s the thing about rights. They’re not actually supposed to be voted on. That’s why they’re called rights.
Rachel Maddow, August 2010
Source: Politically Illustrated
Maddow speaks out in response to California’s passing of Prop 8 banning gay marriage in the state.
Rochester residents speak out
The marriage discrimination amendment is not going to help a single family… But denying gay couples and their children 515 legal protections, rights and responsibilities harms Minnesotans. And those are Minnesotans that we know — our neighbors, our friends, our co-workers, our family members.
Bob Werner, Rochester, Minnesota
Source: Post Bulletin
Werner shared his views at the Freedom Walk for All Families in Rochester as part of Rochester Pridefest. Attracting 120 people, Vangie Castro - chairwoman of Gay Lesbian Community Services of Rochester - shares why the event was put together:
We just want to let Rochester and southeast Minnesota know these families are here, we exist, and we need the same rights and respect and support in the community as any other family.
Thanks to everyone that continues to spread the “vote no” message across this great state.
Tom Horner on the Marriage Amendment
A recent study showed the Twin Cities metropolitan area is about 5th or 6th in the country in attracting these kinds of workers. Not just gays and lesbians, but all educated workers who want to live in a community that welcomes diversity, that embraces diversity… I think that’s the business stake. I think that’s why businesses ought to get involved. It’s not because it’s the right the thing to do, the popular thing to do, but because it’s a bottom line issue for businesses.
Tom Horner, in response to why Minnesota Businesses need to take a stand against the mean-spirited amendment on ballots this fall
Source: Kare11.com
Twin Cities Pride Parade Chant
Hey hey, vote no, this amendment has got to go!
Hundreds of volunteers out today as part of the Twin Cities GLBT Pride Parade in Minneapolis. The group started chanting and many others joined in. Inspiring!
Minnesota for Marriage Responds to Poll Results
We’ve been polling the amendment for over a year and our most recent poll shows the race unchanged with support for the amendment in the mid‐fifties. And, every time the voters get a chance to vote on marriage, they affirm marriage as between one man and one woman. We have a lot of work ahead of us, but we expect Minnesota to be the 32nd state to define marriage as between one man and one woman in its constitution.
Chuck Darrell, Communications Director, Minnesota for Marriage
Source: Minnesota Public Radio
Chuck Darrell in response poll results released in early June that showed more Minnesotans opposing the marriage amendment on ballots this fall. I blogged about the results yesterday and my message was very fitting in reading Darrell’s response. It is far too soon to celebrate as Darrell and team fully expect Minnesota to be the 32nd state to write discrimination into the state constitution.
Brad Pitt on Gay Marriage
I figure folks could use a end-of-week smile! Check out the 60-second clip from Ellen where Brad Pitt speaks out against Prop 8 back in 2008.
I don’t think it has any place in our definition of America.
Couldn’t agree with you more, Brad. These propositions and amendments have no place in our constitution. Thanks to all of the folks that lend their voices to this fight. Keep telling your story and speaking out. That’s how we will defeat these mean-spirited measures.
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Tweets
- Check out what a visitor to the site asked me to pass along to Father Mike Tegeder. RT if you agree. #minnesota #voteno
http://t.co/4iqhrFX211/09/2012 - #Minnesota nice? Yeah, we #voteno twice! Congratulations to to Minnesota for standing on the right side of history!11/07/2012
- #Minnesota #marriageamendment 78% reporting. #voteno at 50%; yes side has 49%. It's going to be a while before we call this one...11/07/2012
- #Minnesota #marriageamendment 47% reporting. Spread narrows. #voteno side still at 49%; yes side has increased their support to 47%.11/07/2012
- Check out what a visitor to the site asked me to pass along to Father Mike Tegeder. RT if you agree. #minnesota #voteno
