Watch the gay-marriage House floor debate live | MinnPost
Follow along this afternoon with live video from The Uptake.
But let’s be honest with ourselves, heterosexuals. We are playing a small supporting role in this freedom to marry movement. The real heroes are not the heteros. The real heroes are the people who had the courage to speak truth to power when it was difficult and dangerous: “We’re here, we’re queer, get over it.” That, much more than straight people’s belated courage, is at the core of what is changing America.
If gay marriage bill passes Minnesota House, Senate will take it up Monday | MinnPost
Minnesota state Senate leaders said that they plan to hold a floor debate and vote on the gay marriage bill Monday if the state House passes the measure today.
A vote on the bill is likely to be close in the House, although DFL state House leaders have said they wouldn’t bring it up for a floor vote unless they had the votes.
Some expected amendments — which would add some protection for churches and possibly include the words “civil marriage” in the proposed law’s wording — may bring some Republican yes votes.
DFL state Senate officials have indicated that they have enough votes to pass the measure, and the governor has said he’ll sign it if it gets to him.
I think we’re going for human rights for everyone.
Senate bill sponsor Sen. Scott Dibble testifying on Tuesday in support of gay marriage.
Read more: Marriage bill advances after emotional day of hearings
It was possibly the most emotional moment of one of the Legislature’s most emotional days. One after another, married couples, partners who’d like to be married, parents, children, clergy and others testified at twin hearings Tuesday on the proposed legalization of same-sex marriage.
Partway into the proceedings, a slender woman stepped to the front of the room and took a seat next to Rep. Karen Clark, DFL-Minneapolis, the bill’s chief author in the House of Representatives. Lynne Osterman introduced herself to the members of the Civil Law Committee — and promptly burst into tears.
Struggling, Osterman explained that she served a single term in the House as a Republican elected in New Hope. During her 2002-2004 term, she cast what she called a “politically expedient vote” in favor of Minnesota’s Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), banning gay marriage.
“I regret it,” Osterman said. “I can tell you from experience that you will have to live knowing that a no vote is not fair, it’s not respectful and it’s not equal.”
Read more: Marriage bill advances after emotional day of hearings | MinnPost
National Organization for Marriage vows to spend $500K to defeat GOP legislators who vote for gay marriage
“Marriage is not a partisan issue, and NOM does not hesitate to oppose weak Republicans and support strong Democrats,” said Brian Brown, NOM president.
How might Supreme Court justices view the gay-marriage issues before them?
Leaving aside for the moment the question of whether there is actually anything to fear, there’s this: The high court’s recent decision to hear two same-sex marriage cases in its current term is not likely to be the deus ex machina some legislators are hoping for.
What Minnesotans United's Facebook interface actually does | MinnPost
GREAT explainer. Each record you complete using the kNOw Tool saves the campaign 30 minutes and $30.
Checking out yes/no ads before N.C. marriage-amendment vote
With voters headed to the polls May 8 to decide whether to amend North Carolina’s constitution to outlaw same-sex marriage, Minnesota groups working for and against a marriage ban here are getting a sneak peek at each other’s likely tactics.
In Bachmann’s old school district in Minnesota, nine children, most of whom were gay or perceived as gay, have committed suicide in the past two years.
Maybe I was naïve, but I was under the impression that around gay and lesbian issues, we were slowly but surely — I know sometimes too slowly — but slowly but surely moving actually in the right direction; the direction of more inclusion, the direction of more equity, the direction of more safety. I thought that was the trend.
The Rev. Grant Stevensen, new director of Minnesotans United for All Families’ faith department.
Read Beth Hawkins’ Q&A with Rev. Stevensen: Engaging congregations: A Q&A with Minnesotans United’s Grant Stevensen
Minnesota’s marriage amendment battle: Power of ‘messaging’ may be the key
Beth Hawkins takes a comprehensive look at the messaging strategies for both sides of the marriage amendment. Fascinating read.
