Tag: yard signs

Properties with Vote No signs vandalized

In September, I encouraged readers to report stolen yard signs to bring awareness to the issue across the state. While stealing or damaging a yard sign is upsetting, I’m sad to report that at least nine homes in Blaine with “Vote No” yard signs have been vandalized.

According to KSTC-TV:

The Blaine Police Department said officers are considering the incidents cases of vandalism and not “bias” crime. A full investigation is underway.

The vandalism included giant pictures of male and female anatomy.

I get that people disagree on this issue. However, the fact that someone would spray paint genitals on someone’s house or garage just shows the amount of damage and negativity this fight has brought to Minnesota.

This amendment doesn’t “protect” anything. It rehashes an old – and ugly – debate that is already settled in Minnesota; marriage is already defined as one man and one woman. While amendment supporters may claim “We don’t hate gay people, honest,” their actions to limit the rights of committed, loving same-sex couples certainly don’t foster love. This sad story is a clear example of that.

No Comments by Minnesota for Equality / October 24, 2012 / Posted in: Marriage Equality, Minnesota

Tagged: Blaine, KSTC, marriage amendment, Minnesota, sad news, vandalism, yard signs

Amendment supporters and their signs

We are just getting hammered all day for signs.

Chuck Darrell, Spokesman, Minnesota for Marriage
Source: Star Tribune

Darrell reports that Minnesota for Marriage, the group that supports the marriage amendment, has already given out 40,000 yard signs and expected another 25,000 to arrive at headquarters last week. (Personally, I question these numbers)

In the comments, one poster supposed that most people were keeping the signs in their garages, as Vote NO signs seem to outnumber amendment supporters’ signs in force. However, a poster by the handle bethelstudent disagrees:

go anywhere that isn’t the metro area, and you’ll see plenty. Down in southwest MN where I live (I go to college in the TC), all you see are vote yes signs.

Sometimes, we forget that not all of Minnesota looks like the Twin Cities. In smaller towns or communities across the state, people don’t always get to interact with someone who is gay, let alone in a committed same-sex relationship (I know that I moved from a very small town at a young age to be in a bigger city where I felt much more accepted).

Unfortunately, because of this limited interaction with diversity, people succumb to the scare tactics that they hear from groups like Minnesota for Marriage. That’s why it continues to be so important to tell our stories, to talk to voters, to let our parents and grandparents know that we are everyday Minnesotans, just like everyone else.

While I’m glad to be surrounded by Vote NO signs in the Cities, it saddens me to hear that ANY yes signs are being given out.

No Comments by Minnesota for Equality / October 4, 2012 / Posted in: Amendment Supporters, Marriage Equality, Minnesota

Tagged: Alexandria, Chuck Darrell, marriage amendment, Minnesota, Minnesota for Marriage, Twin Cities, yard signs

Reporting stolen yard signs

Sadly, there have been multiple reports of Vote No yard signs being stolen across the state. Because these signs are personal property, it is very important that you report this theft to your local authorities. Additionally, Stand Up, Stand Out! Bloomington MN is also recommending that you report stolen signs to Out Front Minnesota so that these crimes can be tracked.

Stand Up also provides a couple of ideas on how to discourage future theft:

Affix your sign to a fence, wall, door, or tree; put it above the front door; put it in a front window.
Keep it close to the house, not out by the sidewalk or street.
Put an American flag sticker on it
Put one of those “This property under video surveillance” stickers on it.
Put a sticker on it, or write on it with Sharpie: PLEASE STEAL THIS SIGN, IF YOU DO I WILL JUST DONATE ANOTHER $10 TO DEFEAT THE ANTI-MARRIAGE AMENDMENT.

For additional information, check out their post on Facebook.

Note: Some folks are taking a creative approach to let vandals and thieves know they won’t be silenced. For everyone that has had to deal with this, I’m truly sorry. This is the type of hatred and ignorance that will only continue to spread if this amendment passes here in Minnesota.

11 Comments by Minnesota for Equality / September 3, 2012 / Posted in: Marriage Equality, Minnesota

Tagged: marriage amendment, Minnesota, police, sad news, stolen, Vote No yard signs, yard signs

Take Action: National Night Out (August 7)

Hey everyone, I’ve got another opportunity for you to Take Action and it’s just around the corner! Tonight I received a call from a volunteer with Minnesotans United to remind me that National Night Out is next week (August 7).

National Night Out provides each of us with a great opportunity to talk to our neighbors and friends about the freedom-limiting marriage amendment on ballots this fall. Share your story and let your neighbors know how this amendment would impact real Minnesotans. If you need some help, check out my blog post on Tips for Having a Successful Conversation about Marriage and then hop over to print out the one-pager with 8 key facts that everyone needs to know about the amendment.

Be sure to wear your Vote No tshirt – it’s another easy way to get the conversation started!

Final plug: according to the volunteer, each local office is putting together kits with pledge forms and stickers that you can use at your National Night Out event. Get ten pledge forms? Ear a free Vote NO yard sign! If you already have one, it’s a great gift you can share with a neighbor.

Check out mnunited.org for a list of local offices. While you’re there, be sure to pick up a yard sign if you don’t already have one!

No Comments by Minnesota for Equality / July 31, 2012 / Posted in: Marriage Equality, Minnesota

Tagged: conversations, marriage amendment, Minnesota, Minnesotans United for All Families, National Night Out, take action, vote no tshirts, yard signs

Twitter User: “Battle 4 protecting #traditionalmarriage has begun!”

Kathleen Mulally (@KMulally) shared a photo of a Vote No yard sign on twitter yesterday and had this to say:

Battle 4 protecting #traditionalmarriage has begun!!Every Registered Voter in MN needs 2vote in Nov. #MarriageAmendment

A couple thoughts:

It’s great to see another Vote No yard sign! Here’s mine the night I got it! Be sure to get one too!
While amendment proponents have been around for a while now, they are going to start coming out in full force; expect to see posts like this on social media sites, letters to the editors, etc.
If you happen to see a friend, co-worker or family member post something like this, take the time to have a conversation. People are 67% more likely to move to our side when they hear from someone they know.
Don’t get upset with the person and don’t try to argue it out. Calling names and using profanities doesn’t accomplish anything. In fact, it actually makes our side look bad. Instead, take the time to explain why this topic matters to you and why the constitution is no place to have this conversation.
Share these types of examples with your friends. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard, “Oh, this will never pass here in Minnesota!” from people. In reality, there’s a very high likelihood that this amendment could pass in November. We all need to understand that there are many folks out there like this Twitter user who will be trying to “protect” marriage.

By getting out there, sharing our stories and helping educate other voters, we really have a chance at beating this thing. But make no mistake, it’s going to take a LOT of hard work and dedication from Minnesotans across this great state to spread the word: Vote NO.

To Ms. Mulally, I’d be more than happy to have a conversation. I think once you had the chance to meet me, you’d realize that I’m a pretty good guy and that my love really doesn’t threaten your “traditional” marriage in any way.

To everyone else, I’m ready for the conversation. I hope you’re with me.

No Comments by Minnesota for Equality / July 11, 2012 / Posted in: Amendment Supporters, Marriage Equality, Minnesota, Same Sex Marriage Opponents

Tagged: amendment proponents, conversations, Kathleen Mulally, kmulally, marriage amendment, Minnesota, Social media, Twitter, yard signs