Thursday, May 16, 2013
Gov. Mark Dayton’s signature Tuesday didn’t end the heated debate around same-sex marriage.
Whatever side of the debate you fall on, there’s no denying that this week’s passage of a bill legalizing same-sex marriage was a historical moment. Minnesota became just the 12th state to sanction gay marriage when Gov. Mark Dayton signed the bill Tuesday. Patch readers quickly wrote in to share their thoughts on the moment. Eagan Patch reader Kathi Malone echoed the view of legislators who voted yes in seeing same-sex marriage as a civil right: I am so happy that finally gay people will be able to have the civil right to marry. This is truly an American vote for freedom. I applaud Sen Clausen and all other legislators who voted for this historical bill. James N added: Thank you Senator Carlson and the entire MN legislature for extending …
Tuesday, May 14, 2013
Legislation to allow gay marriage in the state cleared its final hurdle Monday, May 13. With Gov. Mark Dayton expected to sign the bill as soon as tomorrow, Minnesota will become the 12th state in the country to allow same-sex couples to marry.
The Minnesota Senate approved H.F. 1054 Monday, May 13, clearing the way for Minnesota same-sex couples to marry in the state. The 37 to 30 vote, which was seen as the last hurdle for the legislation, makes Minnesota the 12th in the United States to recognize same-sex marriages in state law. Gov. Mark Dayton's office announced a signing ceremony set for 5 p.m. Tuesday, May 14. Democrats, known locally as the DFL party, hold a 39-28 advantage in the Minnesota Senate. Debate began shortly after noon Monday, with the Republican Party introducing a pair of amendments to the bill, both of which were voted down by state Democrats, who control the Senate. It quickly moved to speeches invoking personal feelings and relationships surrounding the…
Monday, May 13, 2013
Rev. Dr. Robyn Provis works for marriage equality, but it's her efforts in suicide prevention that have made her a local hero. Sponsored by Grape-Nuts.
About this sponsorship: In honor of the 60th anniversary of Sir Edmund Hillary’s historic ascent of Mount Everest, Patch and Grape-Nuts are teaming up to highlight those who inspire people around them to climb their own mountains. When the news of the passage of the marriage equity bill by the Minnesota House of Representatives reached Rev. Dr. Robyn Provis, the first person she wanted to share it with was her wife of nearly eight years, Kathy Luebbe. Provis and Luebbe were married in Toronto, Canada, and for years she says they have played a game on road trips of “Now we’re legally married. Whoops, now we’re not.” The long road to marriage equity mirrors the journey Rev. Dr. Robyn Provis has taken professional and personally to arrive …
Friday, May 10, 2013
The bill now moves on to the state senate as Minnesota Democrats hope to make the state the 12th in the nation to legalize gay marriage. Gov. Mark Dayton has vocally supported the legislation.
UPDATE: Minnesota Representatives approved with a 75-59 vote Thursday a bill legalizing same-sex marriages in the state, putting it on the road to become the 12th state in the nation to do so. The vote came at about 3 p.m. Thursday, May 9, about three hours after the bill was introduced. This is about honoring difference," bill sponsor Karen Clark said. "I respect the other point of view. But there is something about being able to marry the love of your life." Clark, a Democrat from Minneapolis, recognized her partner of 26 years in the assembly's audience. The vote came nearly six months to the day after a 2012 vote on a Republican-sponsored amendment item defining marriage as a union between man and woman. That, of course, was …
Wednesday, March 27, 2013
It's 'marriage equality' vs. 'traditional marriage' as the U.S. Supreme Court considers challenges to the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) and California's Prop. 8 banning same-sex marriage.
Should the U.S. Supreme Court uphold or overturn the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) and California's Proposition 8 banning same-sex marriage? Take the poll above and leave your comment below! By Wednesday it was same-old, same-old as Supreme Court justices heard a second day of arguments about laws concerning same-sex marriage. Under DOMA, the federal government does not recognize marriages between people of the same gender. Prop. 8 made marriages between people of the same gender illegal again in California. How would you rule if you sat on the nation's high court? Take the poll above and leave your comment below. For more on Tuesday's Prop. 8 arguments, you can play the full audio above (or listen and see the unofficial transcript via …
Thursday, March 14, 2013
After Tuesday's approval of the same-sex marriage bill by House and Senate committees, we want to know if you think the issue should be addressed in schools.
On Tuesday, two committees in the Minnesota Legislature passed same-sex marriage bills, which moved them to the next step: approval or rejection by the full House and Senate. Discussions about gay marriage aren't confined to politics. Last year's proposed consitutional amendment and this year's bills are leading to conversations in homes and churches. But should those discussions move into public school classrooms? After same-sex marriage was legalized in New York, Chancellor Merryl Tisch, the head of the state Board of Regents, said the issue should be added to districts' curriculums. "We have to think of, how we do discuss gay marriage thoughtfully, respectfully and sensitively," Tisch said. "There has to be age-appropriateness." Same-…
Friday, January 4, 2013
With so many challenges on the table, Patch wants to know what issues you think are most important.
With another legislative session just around the corner, senators and representatives have no shortage of challenges ahead of them. Lawmakers plan to convene hearings on gun control in the wake of the school shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary in Newtown, CT. They’ll review a recommendation from a governor-appointed task force to increase gas taxes and tab fees in response to a projected $50 billion shortfall in transportation funding. The DFL majority and defeat of the marriage amendment in the 2012 election could even prompt the Legislature to take up the issue of gay marriage. And looming over everything is a projected $1.1 billion deficit that legislators will have to close before adjourning for the year. With so many issues on the …
Friday, July 27, 2012
From Saturday to Monday, Minnesotans United will bring in 1000s of volunteers to participate in marathon phone banks and trainings.
Sunday, July 29, will mark 100 days until Minnesotans have an opportunity to vote on a proposed constitutional amendment that would define marriage as between one man and one woman in the state constitution (reflecting existing state statute). [Related: POLL: Do You Approve Of The Marriage Amendment's Ballot Title?] According to a statement issued this morning, Minnesotans United for All Families is planning to embark on a "massive statewide effort to reach out to 100,000 voters over a three-day period" to garner support to defeat the amendment. [Related: Momentum Grows to Defeat Amendment Limiting Freedom to Marry] The statement says that from Saturday to Monday, Minnesotans United will bring in thousands of volunteers to participate …
Wednesday, July 18, 2012
A list of those that have come out in favor of a proposal for the state constitution to define marriage as between a man and a woman.
On Nov. 6, Minnesotans will vote on a proposed constitutional amendment that would define marriage as between one man and one woman in the state constitution, reflecting existing state statute. The following companies have come out in favor of the amendment. (Click here for a list of companies that oppose the amendment.) Do you know of a company or business leader who’s taken a stand on the issue—either for or against? Let us know in the comments below. How do you feel about the companies' stands? Take our poll: Should Companies Take Positions on Social Issues? *** Companies That Support the Marriage Amendment
Monday, July 16, 2012
A list of those that have come out against a proposal for the state constitution to define marriage as between a man and a woman.
On Nov. 6, Minnesotans will vote on a proposed constitutional amendment that would define marriage as between a man and a woman—which would limit marriage to opposite sex couples. The following companies and business leaders have come out against the amendment. (Click here for a list of companies that support the amendment.) Do you know of a company or business leader who’s taken a stand on the issue—either for or against? Let us know in the comments below. How do you feel about the companies' stands? Take our poll: Should Companies Take Positions on Social Issues? *** Companies That Oppose the Marriage Amendment Business Leaders Who Oppose the Marriage Amendment
Dan Johnson
11:15 am on Sunday, May 19, 2013
O. Your post seems to ignore the fact many gay people are Christians, Jews, and members of all other religious faiths. Your unsupported claim ignores this fact. You also seem to ignore many churches already perform marriage ceremonies and have been doing so for decades, as well as throughout history. While they are still free to refuse marriage to any person for any reason, many do not. You also … more ›