Anti-Gay Marriage Const Amendment in Minnesota

[PlayaGroom]

I've held off on posting anything about this because I didn't think it'd get much steam, but the last few days, it's been looking like the real deal.

Fronted by Michele Bachmann and our republican-led House and Senate MN State Legislators have put together a motion to amend the state constitution to include an amendment actually banning same-sex marriages.

I'm not the best at understanding the entire legislative process, but from what I gather, the committee that formed this bill is attacking it differently than other states in that instead of simply making it a law (which would be subject to governor veto), they're actually aiming for the constitution (veto-proof). With a Republican majority, this thing has been sailing through so far. Chances are good that it's going to be put on our ballots next year.

I do know that there have been rallies at the capitol the last couple days of this session, and from what I understand, today was a probable/possible day where this legislation/amendment was heading to the floor for a vote.

When, conveniently, this happened:

ARTICLE

An outspoken pastor was invited to be the guest chaplain (who has suggested that the death penalty be considered for gay people on a local radio show), incidentally enough by a Republican Representative who was part of the committee that drafted this amendment, to open the day's session with prayer.

He said this:

"I know this is a non-denominational prayer in this Chamber and it’s not about the Baptists and it’s not about the Catholics alone or the Lutherans or the Wesleyans. Or the Presbyterians the evangelicals or any other denomination but rather the head of the denomination and his name is Jesus. As every President up until 2008 has acknowledged. And we pray it. In Jesus’ name," he said.

After he stepped back from the microphone, the session was put on hold, and actually called to restart with a second guest chaplain to say a new prayer.

Since then, the guy that invited him to speak has denounced the guy and said he had no idea of this guy's radical background.

It just so happens that this guy opened the day on one of the biggest planned rallies on the capitol steps against the amendment.

The priorities of our politicians are really scaring me.

[PlayaGroom]

Another article that describes the legislation, and the atmosphere around here a little better.

[Sue]

Mayor Rybak responds to Bradlee Dean's House Prayer. | Minnesota Capitol Conversations on blip.tv

I love R.T.

[Mnbruce]

If this bigoted attempt to change our state's constituion gets to the voters I'm really hoping it will be defeated and maybe stop other states from trying the same thing. Some of the older bigoted members of our society see the wave of change on this subject coming, and will do anything to stop it.

[gingele]

Keep your religion in your church or synagogue or mosque and OUT of government!

Thank goodness there are still SOME sane Republicans in MN:

‘That’s not pro-liberty’: Conservatives come out against GOP marriage amendment | Minnesota Independent: News. Politics. Media.

The Minnesota Log Cabin Republicans are lobbying aggressively against the measure. “In 2010, Log Cabin Republicans celebrated when the GOP took control of the Minnesota House and Senate. We looked forward to Republican legislators obeying a voter mandate to put a laser focus on the out-of-control spending at the State Capitol. It is deeply disappointing to see members of our party turn away from that mission in favor of a divisive social agenda,” Ken Smoron, Log Cabin’s vice president, said in a statement. “At a time when job creation, the economy, taxes, and the state’s budget are of utmost concern for Minnesota families and businesses, the proposed amendment is anti-liberty, anti-family, and a distraction that Minnesota just can’t afford.”

And I'm firmly with the Libertarians on this subject:

The Libertarian Party of Minnesota held an “unusual” special meeting on May 7 to deliberate on the amendment. Party officials there unanimously condemned the marriage amendment.


“The proposed Gay Marriage Ban would expand government control and restrict the freedom of consenting adults to live their own lives as they choose. Libertarians believe that marriage is a private matter between individuals,” the party wrote. “We believe that marriage is a fundamental human right, and that all personal relationships, including marriage, should be at the sole discretion and agreement of the individuals involved, as well as any family, friends, or religious institutions they may choose to involve.”
It added, “We also oppose any attempt to place a marriage ban before voters, as the trappings of democracy do not legitimize infringements upon personal liberty; a 51 percent majority does not have the right to force its will upon the other 49 percent. We instead support a free society, where 1% can still be free to live their own lives as they choose, even if 99% might disapprove.”

Is there even a snowball's chance in hell for this Amendment to come to pass?

[james]

It is a testament to the wide range of effective use of intellect that such nonsense consumes resources.

who cares if a couple fags love each other?

[beachbumbam]

• Meet Dr. Bachmann

Dr. Marcus Bachmann, president of Bachmann & Associates, has been a clinical therapist in the Twin Cities for more than 20 years. Marcus is a popular conference speaker with practical insights, biblical principles, and humor interwoven in his messages.
I believe my call is to minister to the needs of people in a practical, caring and sensitive way.
Dr. Bachmann received his Masters degree in education/counseling from Regent University located in Virginia Beach, Virginia. He received his Doctorate degree in clinical psychology from Union Graduate Institute located in Cincinnati, Ohio.
Marcus and his wife, Congresswoman Michele Bachmann are the parents of five children and have been foster parents to more than 20 children. The family lives in the St. Croix Valley.

SPECIALTIES

• Anger Management
• Communication - Conflict Resolution
• Individual, Family, and Group Therapy
• Marriage Counseling
• Medication Management
• Self-Esteem
• Workshops, Seminars, and Presentations

COUNSELOR SPECIALTIES

• Abuse Issues
• Addictions
• Adolescent Issues
• Adoption Issues
• Adult Children of Alcoholics
• Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD/ADHD)
• Children
• Co-Dependency
• Depression
• Eating Disorders
• Family of Origin Issues
• Grief & Loss
• Learning Disabilities
• Marital Problems
• Men’s & Women’s Issues
• Parenting & Family Issues
• Shame
• Spiritual Issues

[Sue]

Originally Posted by beachbumbam

• Meet Dr. Bachmann

Dr. Marcus Bachmann, president of Bachmann & Associates, has been a clinical therapist in the Twin Cities for more than 20 years. Marcus is a popular conference speaker with practical insights, biblical principles, and humor interwoven in his messages.
I believe my call is to minister to the needs of people in a practical, caring and sensitive way.
Dr. Bachmann received his Masters degree in education/counseling from Regent University located in Virginia Beach, Virginia. He received his Doctorate degree in clinical psychology from Union Graduate Institute located in Cincinnati, Ohio.
Marcus and his wife, Congresswoman Michele Bachmann are the parents of five children and have been foster parents to more than 20 children. The family lives in the St. Croix Valley.

SPECIALTIES

• Anger Management
• Communication - Conflict Resolution
• Individual, Family, and Group Therapy
• Marriage Counseling
• Medication Management
• Self-Esteem
• Workshops, Seminars, and Presentations

COUNSELOR SPECIALTIES

• Abuse Issues
• Addictions
• Adolescent Issues
• Adoption Issues
• Adult Children of Alcoholics
• Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD/ADHD)
• Children
• Co-Dependency
• Depression
• Eating Disorders
• Family of Origin Issues
• Grief & Loss
• Learning Disabilities
• Marital Problems
• Men’s & Women’s Issues
• Parenting & Family Issues
• Shame
• Spiritual Issues

[snappysammy]

Originally Posted by james

It is a testament to the wide range of effective use of intellect that such nonsense consumes resources.

who cares if a couple fags love each other?

that is certainly in poor taste

[MN Annie]

Originally Posted by snappysammy

that is certainly in poor taste

No kidding.

[james]

it's supposed to be ironic and frame the ridiculousness of the position. my gay friends get it.

[snappysammy]

Originally Posted by james

it's supposed to be ironic and frame the ridiculousness of the position. my gay friends get it.

of course your friends get it
but it is still in poor taste on a public forum

not offensive to me, ftr

[Mnbruce]

Originally Posted by james

it's supposed to be ironic and frame the ridiculousness of the position. my gay friends get it.

I got it also.

[melliedee]

The unspoken rules of appropriation stipulate that you must be a member (honorary or real) of the community whose discriminatory word you mean to invoke for irony, satire or to reclaim as a positive endearment (see bitch and the n-word for other examples).

If you are not a member, you are in danger--at best of being misunderstood--at worst, guilty of the same affront as those who use such words to be deliberately discriminatory.

My favorite example from popular culture is John Mayer's claim that he had a "ghetto pass" to use the n-word.

[PlayaGroom]

It's going to be on our ballots for 2012.

This is going to be messy. They're predicting it to be the second-most campaigned effort for the 2012 election, second only to Obama's re-election bid.

A great quote:

Barbara Mahowald, a retired teacher and principal from Savage, decided Sunday morning to come out with a handmade cardboard sign that said, simply: "Taking Back Minnesota." Mahowald said she worries about the message the coming debate will send to kids and is concerned about a possible increase in bullying and suicides.

And a side note: this took precedence on the floor over settling the state's budget before the end of the session tonight.