Resources

Anti-Marriage Amendment in Minnesota

Start the Conversation

One simple thing you can do now is start the dialogue. A recent Star-Tribune poll showed the majority of Minnesota residents oppose the amendment, but we cannot rest there. We must build a super-majority of support across the state. We know that the messenger is just as, or more important than the message itself, so talking to the people you know and telling them why you oppose this amendment is the best way to change hearts and minds.

Here are some basic points to get you started:
 

General Messages

  • Same-sex couples are denied more than 1,100 federal benefits and approximately 515 state benefits enjoyed by married opposite-sex couples.
  • Same-sex couples are raising children in 99.6% of all counties in the United States.
  • Research confirms what we already know in our daily experiences: Marriage strengthens families and provides children with security. Same-sex couples want to protect their families just as other couples do.
  • Marriage says “We are family” in a way that no other word does.
  • Marriage is one of the few times where people make a public promise of love and responsibility for each other and ask our friends and family to hold us accountable.
  • Same-sex couples may seem different from other couples, but we share similar values - like the importance of family and helping out our neighbors; worries - like making ends meet or the possibility of losing a job; and hopes and dreams - like finding that special someone to grow old with, and standing in front of friends and family to make a lifetime commitment.
  • Couples get married because they want to be there for each other in sickness and in health, when times are good and when things get tough.
  • All couples who marry in the United States must get a license for a civil marriage, usually at a courthouse or city hall.
  • Civil marriage for gay couples does not affect religious marriages, religious institutions or clergy in any way.

 

Business Owners/Managers

Researchers have found that the new generation of highly desirable workers are likely to choose where they want to live before looking for a job, and they cite diversity and inclusion as one of the key factors in their decision.

Opposing the anti-marriage amendment and supporting marriage equality will:

  • Further efforts to attract and retain top-notch employees.
  • Increase employers# competitiveness compared to peers in neighboring states with laws that might restrict benefits availability.
  • Simplify transfers of employees to states where legal rights for same-sex couples already exist.
  • Lead to the elimination of regulations where some states require benefits for same-sex couples and others forbid them or make them difficult to obtain or administer. Marriage equality will provide the maximum flexibility for businesses to define their own benefits policies in all 50 states.
  • Increase productivity among workers - enable employees to focus on work rather than on concerns around discrimination and equal pay/benefits.

 

Voices of Faith

  • It’s as basic as the Golden Rule.
  • Treating others as one would want to be treated includes allowing marriage for gay couples who are truly committed to each other.
  • Most straight couples would never want someone telling them they couldn’t marry, and when they think about it, many say they wouldn’t want to deny that for anyone else.
  • Opposing the anti-marriage amendment is a social justice issue, and we should strive to treat all people with the same dignity and respect no matter who they love.
  • Opposing the anti-marriage amendment does not in any way coerce any religious faith or tradition to change its beliefs or doctrine, or alter its traditional marriage practices.
  • Many people of faith recognize it should be up to each faith to decide for itself whether they choose to recognize marriage of same-sex couples, without being imposed on by the government. Marriage is the best way to preserve not just personal freedom in America, but also religious freedom.

 

Opposing the anti-marriage amendment fits in with the Catholic faith:

  • Independent-minded Catholics know that families are helped and no one is hurt when committed same-sex couples are allowed to share in marriage.
  • Catholics have consistently been among the most supportive of the freedom to marry for same-sex couples.
  • Catholics have always been generous with their resources and expect their generosity to aid their church, dioceses and the most needy, not anti-gay campaigns that fuel division and violate the Golden Rule.
  • The Catholic faith calls people to fully commit to each other — laws in five states and the District of Columbia now provide couples with recognition of their lifetime commitment.
  • Catholics are not monolithic. While the Catholic hierarchy often pushes certain positions, lay Catholics have a diversity of opinions, including strong stances in support of their gay and lesbian friends and neighbors.
  • How the Catholic Church handles the sacrament of marriage is rightfully within the bishops' purview, however, ending civil marriage discrimination is a matter of promoting equal protections under the law.
  • Many Catholics who support marriage for same-sex couples are guided by the Church's tradition as a leader in social justice issues.